title: The impact of illicit drug market changes on health agency operations in Sydney, Australia.
abstract: At the end of 2000, in Sydney, Australia, there was a dramatic reduction in heroin availability. This study examines how health agencies treating clients for drug and alcohol related issues were able to respond to the changes that took place in their clients and their treatment needs. Key informant interviews were conducted with 48 staff from a wide range of health services in Sydney to provide the data for a thematic analysis. Changes experienced by health agencies included changed patterns of drug use in their clients, increased aggressive incidents, changed numbers of clients accessing treatment services, and a need for more assistance from outside agencies. A strong evidence base for a range of drug treatment options, support of staff development in aggression management skills, and development of good interagency links between mental health, drug and alcohol, and law enforcement services would make health services better prepared for future changes in the drug use of their clients.
authors.affiliation: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia. amy.gibson@unsw.edu.au
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Day
authors.forename: Louisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Degenhardt
mesh_terms: D006285:Health Planning; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D003932:Heroin / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D009517:New South Wales; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs; D003932:Heroin