Journal article
Health and social characteristics of clients reporting amphetamine type substance use at entry to public alcohol and other drug services in New South Wales, Australia, 2016–2019
Drug and Alcohol Review, Vol.42(2), pp.389-400
2023
PMID: 36524444
Abstract
Introduction
Amphetamine type substances (ATS) are commonly used by Australian alcohol and other drug service entrants. We describe demographic characteristics, patterns of ATS and other substance use, health and social conditions among clients entering New South Wales (NSW) public alcohol and other drug services.
Methods
Retrospective cohort of 13,864 records across six health districts (2016–2019) for clients seeking substance use treatment. These districts service approximately 44% of the NSW population aged 15 years and over. Multivariate analysis was conducted on a subsample for whom full data were available (N = 9981). Data included NSW Minimum Data Set for drug and alcohol treatment services and Australian Treatment Outcomes Profile items.
Results
Over the preceding 4 weeks, 77% (n = 10,610) of clients (N = 13,864) reported no recent ATS use, 15% (n = 2109) reported ‘low frequency’ (1–12 days) and 8% (n = 1145) ‘high frequency’ (13–28 days) use. ATS use was most common among people attending for ATS or opioids as primary drug of concern. A multinomial regression (N = 9981) identified that clients reporting recent arrest (aOR 1.74, 95% CI 1.36, 2.24), higher cannabis use frequency (aOR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00, 1.02), lower opioid use frequency (aOR 0.98, 95% CI 0.97, 0.99) and poorer quality of life (aOR 0.91, 95% CI 0.86, 0.97) were more likely to report ‘high frequency’ rather than ‘low frequency’ ATS use.
Discussion and Conclusions
People who use ATS experience health and social issues that may require targeted responses. These should be integrated across all services, not only for clients with ATS as principal drug of concern.
Details
- Title
- Health and social characteristics of clients reporting amphetamine type substance use at entry to public alcohol and other drug services in New South Wales, Australia, 2016–2019
- Authors
- Emma Black (Corresponding Author) - The University of SydneyKristie Mammen - South Eastern Sydney Local Health DistrictRachel M. Deacon - The University of SydneyNadine Ezard - UNSW SydneyLlewellyn Mills - The University of SydneyAdrian J. Dunlop - Hunter New England Local Health DistrictMark Montebello - The University of SydneyDavid Reid - New South Wales Department of HealthSteven Childs - New South Wales Department of HealthRaimondo Bruno - University of TasmaniaAnthony Shakeshaft - UNSW SydneyKrista J. Siefried - UNSW SydneyMichael Farrell - UNSW SydneyJennifer Holmes - New South Wales Department of HealthNicholas Lintzeris - The University of Sydney
- Publication details
- Drug and Alcohol Review, Vol.42(2), pp.389-400
- Publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
- Date published
- 2023
- DOI
- 10.1111/dar.13588
- ISSN
- 1465-3362
- PMID
- 36524444
- Copyright note
- © 2022 The Authors. Drug and Alcohol Review published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.
- Grant note
- National Centre for Clinical Research on Emerging Drugs. Grant Number: NCRC03
- Organisation Unit
- School of Health - Psychology
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991242162402621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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