NEW SOUTH WALES DRUG TRENDS 2023 - Key Findings from the New South Wales

The six per cent of the sample nominated heroin as perceived purity and availability of their drug of choice (50% in 2022) while the methamphetamine crystal remained stable largest per cent nominated methamphetamine between 2022 and 2023, with the largest as the drug injected most often in the past percentage of participants reporting it to be of month (53%), stable relative to 2022. [...] Heroin In 2023, two thirds (67%) of the Sydney sample reported recent (i.e., past six month) use of 1 Illicit Drug Reporting System 2023 Cocaine of the Sydney sample reported recent use of Almost one quarter (23%) of the sample any non-prescribed benzodiazepines, a reported recent use of cocaine, stable relative significant increase from 21% in 2022 to 2022 (16%). [...] While Cannabis and/or Cannabinoid-Related non-prescribed e-cigarette use remained Products stable in 2023 with one third (33%) reporting Two thirds (65%) of the Sydney sample recent use (30% in 2022), frequency of use reported non-prescribed cannabis and/or significantly increased from a median of 20 cannabinoid-related product use in the six days in 2022 to daily (180 days) use in 2023 months pre. [...] o Thirty-nine per cent of the sample o In 2023, three quarters (76%) of the sample reported currently being in some form of reported experiencing stigma related to drug treatment at the time of the interview their illicit drug use in any setting in the six (43% in 2022), most commonly months preceding interview. [...] NALOXONE, HARM REDUCTION AND STIGMA 81% 73% 55% Heard of naloxone Heard of take- home naloxone (paid or free) 13% Trained in naloxone administration Tested substances Knowledge of naloxone signficantly In 2023, one third (33%) of the sample Three quarters (76%) of the sample In 2023, 13% of the sample reported decreased to 81% in 2023 (95% in reported ever using naloxone to reported experiencing s.