Injection of Methadone and Benzodiazepines Among Sydney Injecting Drug Users 1996-2000: 5-Year Monitoring of Trends From the Illicit Drug Reporting System

• NCJ Number: 195633
• Journal: Drug and Alcohol Review Volume: 21 Issue: 1 Dated: March 2002 Pages: 27-32
• Author(s): Shane Darke; Libby Topp; Joanne Ross
• Date Published: March 2002
• Length: 6 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

This article assesses the trends in the injection of methadone and benzodiazepines by injection drug users, in Sydney, Australia, over a 5-year period.

Abstract

Interviewing over 788 injecting drugs users (IDU) in Sydney, Australia, over a 5-year period, the researchers of this article investigate tendencies in the injection of methadone and benzodiazepines. Selecting 788 IDUs from Sydney’s Illicit Drug Reporting System during the years 1996-2000, these researchers collected interviews and employed statistical analyses of T-tests in order to track changes in methadone and benzodiazepines injection rates. Results indicated that IDU’s reported declining rates of methadone injection during the 5-year period, while benzodiazepine injection rates remained consistent. After reporting no significant difference between male and female IDU’s, these researchers conclude that the harmful practice of injecting drugs supports the continued monitoring of illicit drug trends. 1 Figure, 1 table, 22 references