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Drug Trends - Ecstasy and Related Drugs Initiative in WA (EDRS)

  • Research program: Harm reduction policy and strategies
  • Project status: Completed
  • Start date: April 2009
  • Expected end date: June 2019
  • Completion date: June 2017
  • Funded by: NDLERF
  • Lead organisation: University of New South Wales
Project Description

This study comprises the Perth arm of a research project to monitor illicit drug use trends in major cities across Australia. The aims of the study are to examine the demographic characteristics, patterns of ecstasy and other 'party drug' use, perceived harms associated with use, drug market factors such as price, potency availability of ecstasy and other party drugs in Perth, Western Australia from a sample of regular users of ecstasy. The project is coordinated nationally by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC), and has been conducted annually in WA since 2003.

The study involves data from three sources: face-to-face interviews of 100 regular ecstasy users; telephone interviews with 20 key informants; and analysis of name de-identified existing databases from the health and law enforcement sectors. The three sources of data are triangulated against each other in order to minimise the weaknesses inherent in each one and to ensure that only valid emerging trends are documented. The objectives are to add this data to that collected in other Australian jurisdictions to monitor drug trends and inform strategies to reduce drug related harm associated with the use of ecstasy and other 'party drugs'.

Please note that since June 2017, the IDRS and EDRS projects have been combined into the Drug Trends (IDRS & EDRS) project which can be viewed here.

PhD Student
PhD Supervisors
NDRI Project Staff
Name & Contact Details Role Research Program Location
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Professor Simon Lenton
Tel: 61 (0)8 9266 1603
s.lenton@curtin.edu.au
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Chief Investigator

Harm reduction policy and strategies

Perth
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Dr Jodie Grigg
Tel: 61 (0)8 9266 1618
j.grigg@curtin.edu.au
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Co-investigator

Harm reduction policy and strategies

Perth
NDRI Adjunct Project Staff
External Project Staff
Project Contact

Dr Jodie Grigg
Research Fellow
Tel: 61 (0)8 9266 1618
j.grigg@curtin.edu.au
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Sustainable Development Goals and Targets

This project aligns with the following Sustainable Development Goals and Targets:

Related Publications

Smith, J., L., Greene, S., McCutcheon, D., Weber, C., Kotkis, E., Soderstrom, J., Douglas, B., Lenton, S., Grigg, J., Dessauer, P., Ezard, N. and Fatovich, D. (2024). A multicentre case series of analytically confirmed gamma-hydroxybutyrate intoxications in Western Australian emergency departments: Pre-hospital circumstances, co-detections and clinical outcomes. Drug and Alcohol Review, 43, (4), pp. 984-996. doi:10.1111/dar.13830 [RJ2099] View web page

Horyniak, D., Dietze, P., Lenton, S., Alati, R., Bruno, R., Matthews, A., Breen, C. and Burns, L. (2017). Trends in reports of driving following illicit drug consumption among regular drug users in Australia, 2007–2013: Has random roadside drug testing had a deterrent effect? Accident Analysis and Prevention, 104, pp. 146-155. doi:10.1016/j.aap.2017.05.008 [RJ1342] View web page

Nelson, M. and Lenton, S. (2017). WA trends in ecstasy and related drug markets 2016: Findings from the Ecstasy and related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS). National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW, Sydney, NSW. ISBN: 978-0-7334-3691-8 [T252] View web page

Sutherland, R., Bruno, R., Peacock, A., Lenton, S., Matthews, A., Salom, C., L., Dietze, P., Butler, K., Burns, L. and Barratt, M., J. (2017). Motivations for new psychoactive substance use among regular psychostimulant users in Australia. International Journal of Drug Policy, 43, pp. 23-32. doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2016.12.021 [RJ1291] View web page

Nelson, M. and Lenton, S. (2016). WA trends in ecstasy and related drug markets 2015: Findings from the Ecstasy and related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS). National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW, Sydney, NSW. ISBN: 978-0-7334-3639-0 [T299] View web page

Sutherland, R., Peacock, A., Whittaker, E., Roxburgh, A., Lenton, S., Matthews, A., Butler, K., Nelson, M., Burns, L. and Bruno, R. (2016). New psychoactive substance use among regular psychostimulant users in Australia, 2010-2015. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 161, pp. 110-118. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.01.024 [RJ1188] View web page

Nelson, M. and Lenton, S. (2015). WA trends in ecstasy and related drug markets 2014: Findings from the Ecstasy and related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS). National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW, Sydney, NSW. ISBN: 978-0-7334-3550-8 [T238] View web page

Nguyen, P., Bruno, R., Alati, R., Lenton, S., Burns, L. and Dietze, P. (2014). Self-reported recent testing and diagnosis for sexually transmitted infections among regular ecstasy users in Australia, 2011-2012. Drug and Alcohol Review, 33, (2), pp. 211-214. doi:10.1111/dar.12105 [RJ889] View web page

Burns, L., Roxburgh, A., Matthews, A., Bruno, R., Lenton, S. and Van Buskirk, J. (2014). The rise of New Psychoactive Substances in Australia. Drug Testing and Analysis. doi:10.1002/dta.1626 [RJ966] View web page

Grigg, J. and Lenton, S. (2014). WA trends in ecstasy and related drug markets 2013: Findings from the Ecstasy and related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS). National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW, Sydney, NSW. ISBN: 978-0-7334-3411-2 [T298] View web page

Grigg, J. and Lenton, S. (2013). WA trends in ecstasy and related drug markets 2012: Findings from the Ecstasy and related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS). National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW, Sydney, NSW. ISBN: 978-0-7334-3247-7 [T224] View web page

Miller, J., Fetherston, J., Rainsford, C., A. and Lenton, S. (2012). WA trends in ecstasy and related drug markets 2011: Findings from the Ecstasy and related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS). National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW, Sydney, NSW. ISBN: 978-0-7334-3111-1 [T215] View web page

Miller, J., Rainsford, C., A. and Lenton, S. (2011). WA trends in ecstasy and related drug markets 2010: Findings from the Ecstasy and related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS), (70). National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW, Sydney, NSW. ISBN: 978-0-7334-3006-0 [T210] View web page

Rainsford, C., A., Fetherston, J. and Lenton, S. (2010). WA trends in ecstasy and related drug markets 2009: Findings from the Ecstasy and related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS). National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW, Sydney, NSW. ISBN: 978-0-7334-2846-3 [T197] View web page

Rainsford, C., A., Fetherston, J. and Lenton, S. (2009). WA trends in ecstasy and related drug markets 2008: Findings from the Ecstasy and related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS). National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW, Sydney, NSW. ISBN: 978-0-7334-2736-7 [T205]

George, J. and Lenton, S. (2008). WA trends in ecstasy and related drug markets 2007: Findings from the Ecstasy and related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS). National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW, Sydney, NSW. ISBN: 9780733426353 [T186]

George, J. and Lenton, S. (2007). WA trends in ecstasy and related drug markets 2006: Findings from the Ecstasy and related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS). National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW, Sydney, NSW. ISBN: 978 0 7334 2480 9 [T185] View web page

Stafford, J., Degenhardt, L., Dunn, M., Fischer, J., George, J., Johnston, J., Matthews, A., Newman, J., Proudfoot, P. and Weekley, J. (2006). Australian trends in ecstasy and related drug markets 2005: Findings from the Party Drugs Initiative (PDI). National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW, Sydney, NSW. ISBN: 0 7334 2345 0 [M65] View web page