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The Ecstasy and Related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS) is a national monitoring system designed to monitor patterns of use and harms associated with ‘ecstasy’ or 3,4 - methylenedioxy methamphetamine (MDMA) and other related drugs such as methamphetamine, cocaine, MDA, mephedrone or stimulant New Psychoactive Substances (NPS). The EDRS transpired from the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS), which was designed to provide coordinated monitoring of trends in use of illicit drugs and associated harms amongst people who inject drugs. The IDRS and EDRS are designed to detect trends and issues emerging from illicit drug markets in Australia
Key trends from previous years are highlighted below:
2020: The 2020 survey was adapted to collect important data on people’s experiences during COVID-19. Participants were asked about changes in their use of ecstasy and other drugs, changes in behaviours while obtaining drugs, and health precautions undertaken to prevent COVID-19 infection while using or obtaining drugs.
Read the preliminary bulletin here.
2019 & 2018: Recent use of ecstasy, cannabis, and alcohol has remained consistently high amongst Victorian EDRS participants since 2008. Use of methamphetamine has been continuously decreasing while use of cocaine and ketamine has been increasing.
See the 2019 EDRS Infographic here, and the 2019 report here.
2017: The prevalence of reported lifetime use of ecstasy crystal, methamphetamine powder and crystal methamphetamine decreased significantly between 2016 and 2017. The prevalence of reported recent use of ecstasy crystal also decreased significantly. Ecstasy pills remained the most commonly used form of the drug for lifetime use and their median price fell to the lowest recorded in the Victorian EDRS; however, ecstasy capsules were the form most commonly reported for recent use. Speed became significantly harder to obtain. Recent ketamine use remained common among RPU in 2017, and Ketamine remained easy to access.
2016: Ecstasy, alcohol, tobacco and cannabis remained the most common recently used substances. The prevalence of reported recent use of ketamine, GHB and benzodiazepines were all significantly higher in 2016 than in 2015 while the prevalence of reported recent use of ecstasy powder was significantly lower.
2015: The prevalence of reported recent use of psilocybin mushrooms was significantly higher. While the prevalence of recent use of crystal methamphetamine and benzodiazepines were significantly lower.
2010 & 2011: An increase in the use of emerging psychoactive substances such as Mephedrone and DMT was reported which may have also been influenced by the continued lack of availability of ecstasy in Victoria.
2009: An apparent reduction in the availability of ecstasy in Victoria may have influenced an increase in the use of other drugs such benzodiazepines (e.g. Valium, Xanax), LSD, Amyl Nitrite and “designer (hallucinogenic) drugs”.
2008: Detection of the emerging use of Khat (Catha edulis) among Victorian participants.
You can access the national and jurisdictional EDRS Reports on the NDARC website via the following links:
Ongoing
The national EDRS is coordinated by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney.
For any general enquiries relating to this project, please contact:
Co-Program Director, Disease Elimination
To create and translate knowledge into better health, so no-one is left behind.
85 Commercial Road, Melbourne
VIC, 3004, Australia
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