The Risk Factors For Ecstasy And Related Drug Overdose: A Case-crossover Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$406,755.00
Summary
Our ability to respond to the emergent harms of Ecstasy and Related Drug (ERD) use is hampered by our lack of understanding of the practices users engage in that place them at risk of harm. This study will examine the risk factors for non-fatal ERD Emergency Department (ED) admission in a sample of non-fatal ERD overdose victims recruited through two hospital EDs in Melbourne. The research involves a case-crossover study of the risk factors for ERD-related ED admission, as well as a detailed cas ....Our ability to respond to the emergent harms of Ecstasy and Related Drug (ERD) use is hampered by our lack of understanding of the practices users engage in that place them at risk of harm. This study will examine the risk factors for non-fatal ERD Emergency Department (ED) admission in a sample of non-fatal ERD overdose victims recruited through two hospital EDs in Melbourne. The research involves a case-crossover study of the risk factors for ERD-related ED admission, as well as a detailed case series of ERD-related ED admissions. The case-crossover investigation will involve a comparison between behaviours occurring prior to the critical drug use episode with typical drug use behaviours and more specifically those occurring prior to a control use episode (another occasion on which ERDs were used). Data will be collected by Researchers positioned in the ED, with information collected on the specifics of the critical and control use episodes through interviews with participants following stabilisation and a return to consciousness. The case series will be established from all ERD-related ED admissions flagged as such by triage nurses. Potential risk factors under study will include the environmental conditions in which the drug was used (eg time of day, physical location), other drug taking behaviour, personal factors (eg asthma, depression) and other dose-related issues (eg amount purchased, source of purchase). Statistical analysis will establish the major differences between the critical, typical and control use episodes. The proposed research will examine risk factors for ERD-related harms within the context of an understanding of the usual practices and behaviour of users of these drugs. Identifying transient change in risk behaviours will provide a foundation for developing contextually-sensitive strategies for harm minimisation. The development of a detailed case series will impact upon the treatment and management of acute ERD-related harms.Read moreRead less
Mortality Among Injecting Drugs Users - A Follow-up Study Of Injecting Drug User Cohorts.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$47,500.00
Summary
This study will follow-up injecting drug users that participated in research in the 1990s and 2000s to examine mortality rates in these groups over time. Identifying information from these studies will be cross-referenced with National Death Index data to determine participants that died and the dates of their death. This study will be the first in Australia to determine mortality rates over time in a defined cohort of injecting drug users outside drug treatment settings. Studying a defined grou ....This study will follow-up injecting drug users that participated in research in the 1990s and 2000s to examine mortality rates in these groups over time. Identifying information from these studies will be cross-referenced with National Death Index data to determine participants that died and the dates of their death. This study will be the first in Australia to determine mortality rates over time in a defined cohort of injecting drug users outside drug treatment settings. Studying a defined group overcomes some of the problems associated with mortality rate estimates based simply on the number of injecting drug-related deaths. Although the number of deaths can be found, the number of people at risk of injecting drug-related death is unclear because of the hidden nature of drug use and the dynamic characteristics of drug use and drug markets. The examination of mortality trends among injecting drug users over time can provide insights regarding changes in drug use patterns and markets. For example, this study will examine changes in injecting drug use mortality across periods of high heroin availability in the late '90s and periods of interrupted heroin supply - the heroin 'drought' - from 2000 onwards. In addition, factors related to injecting drug-related mortality can be explored by comparing the characteristics of injecting drug users that died and those that survived, such as drug use and drug treatment histories, co-morbidities such as mental illness and socio-demographic backgrounds. This information can inform overdose prevention and harm reduction strategies by identifying individuals most at risk of injecting drug-related mortality. This study will also draw attention to the significant public health burden of injecting drug use. In addition, by comparing the results from this study with other similar studies from overseas, we can more reliably compare mortality among groups of Australian injecting drug users with their peers in other countries.Read moreRead less
Young Adult Social Transitions - Course Of Mental And Behavioural Disorders:The Victorian Adolescent Health Cohort Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$560,750.00
Summary
The paths young people follow into adulthood have changed markedly in the past three decades. Traditionally the adoption of a role as marital partner, parent and fulltime employee in the late teens and early twenties was accompanied by a diminution or 'maturing out' of health risk behaviours and emotional problems arising in adolescence. The social transitions into adulthood are now both delayed and in many instances changed with higher rates of cohabitation, extended teriary educational partici ....The paths young people follow into adulthood have changed markedly in the past three decades. Traditionally the adoption of a role as marital partner, parent and fulltime employee in the late teens and early twenties was accompanied by a diminution or 'maturing out' of health risk behaviours and emotional problems arising in adolescence. The social transitions into adulthood are now both delayed and in many instances changed with higher rates of cohabitation, extended teriary educational participation and part-time employment. The effect of these social changes on health risk behaviours, behavioural and mental disorders is uncertain. This proposal will undertake a further follow-up in the late twenties of a group of just under 2000 young Victorians, already studied from the age of 14 years through to the age of 24 years. This study will assess the persistence of behavioural problems such as smoking and nicotine dependence, excessive alcohol consumption and dependence, cannabis dependence, illicit drug use, risk sexual behaviour, depression and anxiety disorders. The extent to which these may be associated with successful negotiation of transitions in education, employment, relationships, parenthood and establishing an independent home will be evaluated. Alternative explanations including the severity of dependence syndrome, personality, social background and genetic risk factors will also be explored.Read moreRead less
Impact Of An Ivermectin Mass Drug Administration Program Against Endemic Scabies And Strongyloidiasis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,289,786.00
Summary
Overseas studies suggest sustainable and long term benefits can be obtained through the use of ivermectin in mass drug administration programs to control parasitic infections. Our study will be a critical first step in establishing if such a program can be successful in a remote Indigenous community setting, where the disease burden from scabies and strongyloidiasis (threadworm infections) is very high.
Opioid Dependent Persons In Pharmacotherapy: Blood Borne Viruses And Cancer Risk
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$88,495.00
Summary
Opioid dependent persons in pharmacotherapy in NSW are at increased risk of death from cancer. We will examine the occurrence of infection with hepatitis and HIV among this high-risk population using data linkage. We will define the relationship between infection, the duration, frequency and type of pharmacotherapy, and cancer risk. The findings will guide effective strategies that will reduce cancer incidence and mortality among this group, and minimise the associated health care costs.