A investigation of the public health effects of retail heroin markets from a consumer perspective

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The health problems associated with heroin use within our community are a major public health issue. Within the past decade there has been an increase in heroin-related deaths and evidence of the continuing spread of hepatitis C among individuals who inject heroin. Within this period there have been substantial changes in the heroin market in Australia, with street prices decreasing and purity increasing and we have witnessed the emergence of street markets in a number of major cities. The aim of the proposed research is to improve our understanding of the retail heroin market (that part of the market which is accessed by heroin users) by examining how the consumers (heroin users) use this market. The project will examine the relationship between the heroin market and the health problems associated with heroin use including dependence. The research will be conducted at 6 sites within metropolitan Melbourne which have been chosen on the basis that they have established street markets and high levels of non-fatal and fatal overdose. At each site interviews and surveys will be conducted with injecting drug users and others with knowledge of the local market and detailed observations will be made of street markets in each of these areas. This information will be combined with indicators of purity of heroin seized by police, fatal and non fatal-overdoses, police operations and arrests, and needle-syringe distribution and return. The information gathered in this research will be used to develop an understanding of the retail heroin market as a consumer market place and the impact of the market upon the health status of the individuals who use this market. The knowledge that we gain from this research will provide the foundation for developing more effective approaches to reducing the health problems associated with heroin use and for predicting the impact of changes in the market such as a reduction in price upon these problems.