| Popis: |
This thesis comprises 4 book chapters, 29 research papers and 5 published letters. It comprises two discreet bodies of work that address the spectrum of drug use from marginalized populations with injecting drug use and opioid dependence to generally healthier, less stigmatized, out of treatment drug users associated with dance music scene. Both populations face a dynamic spectrum of risks that may, to varying degrees, be modifiable by behavioural change and education which may lead to tangible improvements in the delivery of health services and treatment outcomes. The first part of this thesis comprises 2 book chapters, 11 peer reviewed publications and 3 letters addressing the epidemiology and risks associated with drug use amongst those associated with the dance music scene in the United Kingdom In 1999 I commenced a serial study of club drug use through the use of an annual survey in a popular dance music magazine. This 7 year project generated 9 data based peer reviewed publications. During the study period over 5000 participants completed a questionnaire that addressed a number of drug related issues including patterns and prevalence of substance use and associated risk behaviours including alcohol use and high risk sexual practises. The serial collection of data permitted time trend analysis to be performed and demonstrated the utility of such approaches in the detection of emerging drug trends and the appearance novel substances of abuse such as 4-MTA. The second section comprises 2 book chapters, 18 published papers and 2 letters. The research papers focus on 2 aspects of opioid treatment. The first series(papers 15-27) concern the range and structure of service provision for those with opioid dependence within the public health system in Australia (and to the lesser extent the UK) and consumers' satisfaction, knowledge and understanding of that treatment. The second series (29-34) address opioid substitution medication diversion with a focus on buprenorphine diversion and non adherence to treatment. These two discreet areas support the optimisation of health outcomes obtainable through the provision of opioid substitution treatment while minimizing the harms to individuals and the wider community associated with non adherence to treatment. |
