Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/28806
Title: DPMP submission to the NSW Special Commission of Inquiry into the Drug 'Ice'
Contributor(s): Barrett, L (author); Hughes, C (author); Ritter, A (author); van de Ven, K  (author)orcid ; Barratt, M (author); Kowalski, M (author)
Publication Date: 2019-05
Open Access: Yes
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/28806
Open Access Link: https://www.iceinquiry.nsw.gov.au/assets/scii/response-submissions/057-Drug-Policy-Modelling-Program-UNSW.pdfOpen Access Link
Abstract: 

Recommendation 1. Measures of harmful consumption should replace the focus on population prevalence of use (1.1.1; 1.1.2)

Population prevalence measures of drug use have been the focus of most governments for many years (and this is reflected in questions 1.1.1 and 1.1.2 where the Commission is seeking better ways to measure prevalence). However, population prevalence of use is a meaningless measure of the success or otherwise of policies and actions against drug use. The problem with population prevalence of use is that it does not identify either patterns of consumption that may be of concern, nor the harms associated with use. For example, if population prevalence of the use of amphetamines is 5%, those people may have used once in the last year or every day. Clearly there are major differences between infrequent annual use and daily use - and significant differences in the policy implication (as can be seen for example in early DPMP work on the social cost per gram Moore, 2007). This is why measures of the quantity, frequency and/or intensity of use are vital to inform policy (Bewley-Taylor, 2017; Kilmer, Reuter, & Giommoni, 2015).

Publication Type: Report
Publisher: University of New South Wales, Drug Policy Modelling Program
Place of Publication: Sydney, Australia
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: 111799 Public Health and Health Services not elsewhere classified
160504 Crime Policy
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: 441011 Sociology of health
420606 Social determinants of health
440702 Crime policy
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: 920414 Substance Abuse
920499 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) not elsewhere classified)
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: 200413 Substance abuse
230403 Criminal justice
HERDC Category Description: R1 Report
Publisher/associated links: https://www.iceinquiry.nsw.gov.au/assets/scii/response-submissions/057-Drug-Policy-Modelling-Program-UNSW.pdf
Extent of Pages: 25
Appears in Collections:Report
School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences

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