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Impacts of COVID-19 and associated restrictions on people who use illicit stimulants in Australia: Preliminary findings from the Ecstasy and Related Drugs Reporting System 2020

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Author: Amy Peacock, Olivia Price, Paul Dietze, Raimondo Bruno, Caroline Salom, Simon Lenton, Julia Uporova, Antonia Karlsson, Rosie Swanton, Roanna Chan, Daisy Gibbs, Jodie Grigg, Catherine Daly, Cristal Hall, Tanya Wilson, Louisa Degenhardt & Michael Farrell

Resource Type: Drug Trends Bulletins

The Ecstasy and Related Drug Reporting System (EDRS) is a national drug monitoring system intended to identify emerging trends of local and national concern in illicit drug markets. 

Recognising the potential for the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions on travel and gathering to impact drug supply, use and harms, and the delivery of drug treatment and harm reduction services, the 2020 survey was adapted to collect important data on people’s experiences during COVID-19. Participants were asked about changes in their use of ecstasy and other drugs, changes in behaviours while obtaining drugs, and health precautions undertaken to prevent COVID-19 infection while using or obtaining drugs.  

In this bulletin we present preliminary findings from the first half of the Ecstasy and Related Drug Reporting System (EDRS) 2020 sample. We expect to release analysis of the full sample in late July.

Acknowledgements

  • The participants who contributed their valuable time to share their experiences.
  • All those who contributed to, advised on, and supported the project. 
  • The EDRS is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health. 

Suggested Citation

Peacock, A., Price, O., Dietze, P., Bruno, R., Salom, C., Lenton, S., Swanton, R., Uporova, J., Karlsson, A., Chan, R., Gibbs, D., Grigg, J., Daly, C., Hall, C., Wilson, T., Degenhardt, L., & Farrell, M. (2020). Impacts of COVID-19 and associated restrictions on people who use illicit stimulants in Australia: Preliminary findings from the Ecstasy and Related Drugs Reporting System 2020. Drug Trends Bulletin Series. Sydney: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney.