Extending drug ethno-epidemiology using agent-based modelling.
OBJECTIVE
To show how the inclusion of agent-based modelling improved the integration of ethno-epidemiological data in a study of psychostimulant use and related harms among young Australians.


METHODS
Agent-based modelling, ethnographic fieldwork, in-depth interviews and epidemiological surveys.


METHODS
Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, Australia.


METHODS
Club drug users in Melbourne, recreational drug users in Perth and street-based injecting drug users in Sydney. Participants were aged 18-30 years and reported monthly or more frequent psychostimulant use.


RESULTS
Agent-based modelling provided a specific focus for structured discussion about integrating ethnographic and epidemiological methods and data. The modelling process was underpinned by collective and incremental design principles, and produced 'SimAmph', a data-driven model of social and environmental agents and the relationships between them. Using SimAmph, we were able to test the probable impact of ecstasy pill-testing on the prevalence of harms--a potentially important tool for policy development. The study also navigated a range of challenges, including the need to manage epistemological differences, changes in the collective design process and modelling focus, the differences between injecting and non-injecting samples and concerns over the dissemination of modelling outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
Agent-based modelling was used to integrate ethno-epidemiological data on psychostimulant use, and to test the probable impact of a specific intervention on the prevalence of drug-related harms. It also established a framework for collaboration between research disciplines that emphasizes the synthesis of diverse data types in order to generate new knowledge relevant to the reduction of drug-related harms.
National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University of Technology, Australia. d.moore@curtin.edu.au
David
D
Moore
Anne
A
Dray
Rachael
R
Green
Susan L
SL
Hudson
Rebecca
R
Jenkinson
Christine
C
Siokou
Pascal
P
Perez
Gabriele
G
Bammer
Lisa
L
Maher
Paul
P
Dietze
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D040261:Harm Reduction / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055815:Young Adult
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D006213:Hallucinogens; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine