Researchers from ISSR and the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) at UNSW Sydney are exploring the impact of COVID-19 on Australians who use illicit drugs.
The Australians’ Drug Use: Adapting to Pandemic Threats (ADAPT) Study is a collaboration between the NDARC, The University of Queensland’s Institute for Social Science Research (ISSR) and other research partners, inviting participants 18 years or older to complete a survey covering a range of topics – COVID-19 experiences, drug use, harm reduction behaviour, and access to treatment and support services.
Australians who share their experiences of using illicit drugs (e.g. cannabis, MDMA, heroin, non-prescribed benzodiazepines) regularly in 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, will help ensure that drug-related issues during COVID-19 are better understood, more accurately represented, and used to inform drug treatment and harm reduction in Australia.
ISSR has a long-term working relationship with the NDARC as the Queensland node for the annual Drug Trends surveillance studies of drug use.
As one of the first global studies to talk with people who regularly use illicit drugs about their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, ADAPT will build on 20 years of knowledge from the Drug Trends program and look very specifically at what has changed in response to the COVID-19 situation and the restrictions imposed, and how it changes for individuals over time.
As well as helping researchers to develop tips and strategies for staying safe and healthy during this time, participants who complete the confidential online survey can also enter a prize draw to win one of 20 $100 GiftPay vouchers.
You can opt to complete one 20-min survey or multiple short surveys over three years.
The study team will keep you updated regularly with findings from the study and you can opt in to receive personalised, confidential results over time.
Visit www.adaptstudy.org.au for more information or contact the study team via adaptstudy@unsw.edu.au
