Illicit drug use by young people in Sydney: results of a street intercept survey

To complement existing institution-based drug use surveys, a street intercept survey of 581 young illicit drug users was conducted in Sydney, Australia. Patterns of use, reasons for use and awareness of the health risks associated with use were investigated. The most commonly used illicit drug type, after marijuana, was amphetamines. The least popular illicit drug was heroin. Most of the sample used occasionally, exhibiting a controlled pattern of use with a low prevalence of problems associated with use. Heroin users, in contrast, were often frequent users and reported a higher prevalence of associated problems. The majority of the sample reported excessive drinking patterns, indicating that the current policy of emphasis on alcohol misuse rather than illicit drug use amongst youth is appropriate.