What Services Are What Services Are SayingSaying

April ShawApril Shaw

March 2009March 2009

SurveySurvey Questions CoveredQuestions Covered

• Illicit Drug UseIllicit Drug Use• Polydrug UsePolydrug Use• Costs, Purity & AvailabilityCosts, Purity & Availability• Changes in client profilesChanges in client profiles

8

6

ClientsClients

Age Age • 10 ‘no difference’10 ‘no difference’• 7 ‘Younger’7 ‘Younger’• 4 ‘Older’4 ‘Older’

GenderGender• 12 ‘no difference’12 ‘no difference’• 5 ‘more females’5 ‘more females’• 2 ‘more males’2 ‘more males’

EthnicityEthnicity• 15 ‘no change’15 ‘no change’• Eastern EuropeanEastern European• Asian (women)Asian (women)

Employment StatusEmployment Status• 14 ‘no change’14 ‘no change’• 5 cocaine, steroids, 5 cocaine, steroids,

GHBGHB

ClientsClients 2nd and 3rd generation substance use2nd and 3rd generation substance use

Clients with mental health/ dual diagnosis issuesClients with mental health/ dual diagnosis issues

Clients homeless or with urgent housing issuesClients homeless or with urgent housing issues

More challenging behaviours, especially among More challenging behaviours, especially among 18-30 year olds18-30 year olds

Drugs Used Drugs Used

46% change in drugs used46% change in drugs used• BenzodiazepinesBenzodiazepines• Cannabis - young peopleCannabis - young people• GHBGHB• MethamphetamineMethamphetamine

Poly Drug UsePoly Drug Use

40% change poly drug use40% change poly drug use• Diazepam, heroin, alcoholDiazepam, heroin, alcohol• Heroin, crack cocaine, benzos Heroin, crack cocaine, benzos

(methadone)(methadone)• Amphetamines and heroinAmphetamines and heroin• alcohol, MDMA, cocainealcohol, MDMA, cocaine

Route of administrationRoute of administration

16% change route of drug use16% change route of drug use• increased injectingincreased injecting

femoralfemoral youngeryounger femalefemale

Drug UseDrug UseAdverse consequencesAdverse consequences

• HeroinHeroin Injecting injuriesInjecting injuries Hepatitis C Hepatitis C OverdoseOverdose

• DiazepamDiazepam mental healthmental health aggressionaggression criminal activitycriminal activity

• CannabisCannabis Mental healthMental health

InternetInternet

Prices, Purity and AvailabilityPrices, Purity and Availability

PricesPrices• 42% change42% change

PurityPurity• 56% change56% change

AvailabilityAvailability• 66% change66% change

Avg. PriceAvg. Price

Herbal Cannabis –standard grade (oz)Herbal Cannabis –standard grade (oz) £86£86

Herbal Cannabis –good quality e.g. skunk (oz)Herbal Cannabis –good quality e.g. skunk (oz) £132£132

Resin Cannabis (oz)Resin Cannabis (oz) £50£50

Ecstasy/MDMA (per ill/crystal/powder)Ecstasy/MDMA (per ill/crystal/powder) £2 per pill / £60 per £2 per pill / £60 per gramgram

Amphetamine (gram)Amphetamine (gram) £10£10

Diazepam (per pill)Diazepam (per pill) 50p per 5mg / £1 per 50p per 5mg / £1 per 10mg10mg

Heroin (per gram/bag)Heroin (per gram/bag) £10 bags / £50 -100 per £10 bags / £50 -100 per gramgram

Cocaine (gram)Cocaine (gram) £44£44

Crack (average) per rock Crack (average) per rock £10 – 20 (weight not £10 – 20 (weight not consistent)consistent)

Finally…Finally…

BenzodiazepinesBenzodiazepines AlcoholAlcohol Prices stablePrices stable

• CocaineCocaine