Journal article
Crime, drugs and distress: Patterns of drug use and harm among criminally involved injecting drug users in Australia
SA Kinner, J George, G Campbell, L Degenhardt
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health | Published : 2009
Abstract
Objective: Explore demographic characteristics, patterns of drug use and psychological distress among regular injecting drug users (IDUs) in Australia, as a function of recent criminal activity. Methods: Structured, face-to-face interviews with 909 regular IDUs recruited from every capital city in Australia, between June and August 2007, as part of the annual Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS). Criminal activity in the past month was assessed using the Opiate Treatment Index (OTI); psychological distress was assessed using the Kessler psychological distress scale (K10). Results: Forty-three per cent of IDUs reported recent (past month) criminal activity. Those who had committed crime recen..
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Awarded by NHMRC
Funding Acknowledgements
The Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS) is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing (AGDHA). In addition to the authors, the following researchers and research institutions contributed to the data collected for this study: Emma Black, Amanda Roxburgh, Natasha Sindicich and Jenny Stafford, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales; Tania Davidson and Chris Moon, Department of Health and Community Services, Northern Territory; Meg Richardson, Queensland Alcohol and Drug Research and Education Centre, School of Population Health, University of Queensland; Dr Raimondo Bruno and Barbara de Graaff, University of Tasmania; Brendan Quinn, Turning Point, Victoria; Robyn Vial and Dr Nancy White, Drug and Alcohol Services of South Australia; James Fetherston and A/Prof Simon Lenton, National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University, Western Australia. Prof. Degenhardt is supported by NHMRC Senior Researcher Fellowship #510279. Dr Kinner is supported by NHMRC Postdoctoral Fellowship #401761. We thank the agencies and individuals who assisted with recruitment and interviewing of IDUs. Finally, we thank the IDUs who were willing to be interviewed and share their experience.