Changes in illicit drug use and markets with the COVID‐19 pandemic and associated restrictions: findings from the Ecstasy and Related Drugs Reporting System, 2016–20

Abstract

Aims To describe (i) self‐reported changes in drug use and (ii) trends in price, perceived availability, and perceived purity of illicit drugs, among people who regularly use ecstasy/ 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and other illicit stimulants in Australia following COVID‐19 and associated restrictions. Design Annual interviews with cross‐sectional sentinel samples conducted face‐to‐face in 2016–19 and via video conferencing or telephone in 2020. Data were collected via an interviewer‐administered structured questionnaire. Setting Australian capital cities. Participants Australians aged 16 years or older who used ecstasy/MDMA and other illicit stimulants on a monthly or more frequent basis and resided in a capital city, recruited via social media and word‐of‐mouth ( n ~ 800 each year). Measurements Key outcome measures were self‐reported illicit drug market indicators (price, purity and availability) and, in 2020 only, perceived change in drug use (including alcohol and tobacco) since March 2020 and reasons for this change. Findings For most drugs, participants reported either no change or a reduction in their use since COVID‐19 restrictions were introduced. Ecstasy/MDMA was the drug most frequently cited as reduced in use ( n = 552, 70% of those reporting recent use), mainly due to reduced opportunities for socialization. While market indicators were largely stable across most drugs, the odds of perceiving MDMA capsules as ‘high’ in purity decreased compared with 2016–19 [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.72, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.53–0.99], as did perceiving them as ‘easy’ to obtain (aOR = 0.42, CI = 0.26–0.67). The odds of perceiving cocaine and methamphetamine crystal as ‘easy’ to obtain also decreased (aOR = 0.67, CI = 0.46–0.96 and aOR = 0.12, CI = 0.04–0.41, respectively). Conclusions After COVID‐19‐related restrictions were introduced in Australia, use of ecstasy/MDMA, related stimulants and other licit and illicit drugs mainly appeared to remain stable or decrease, primarily due to impediments to socialization.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on illicit drug supply, drug-related behaviour of people who use drugs and provision of drug related services in Georgia: results of a mixed methods prospective cohort study

“…suggest that supply shortages during the pandemic resulted in temporary increases in the cost of cannabis, cocaine, and some other products on the illicit drug market in Europe [ 9 ]. In an Australian study, market indicators (use of specific drugs, perceived availability and purity) remained relatively stable for most drugs, although there was some evidence of perceived reduction in the availability and purity of cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA [ 47 ]. Authors suggested that reduction in the use of MDMA and other stimulants was mainly associated with the impediments to socialization.…”

Recreational N2O use: just laughing or really bad news?

“…The pandemic may have disturbed drug trafficking and shifted national drug consumption trends, because of shortage of drugs, like cocaine and heroin, may have facilitated the increased consumption of locally produced or more accessible and cheaper substances, like N 2 O and cannabis. For example, the use of ecstasy, a typical party drug, decreased during the lockdown [15]. However, a report from the Netherland noted a decrease in ecstasy and N 2 O use during the COVID-19 lockdown because of a lack of social opportunities [16].…”

Temporal monitoring of stimulants during the COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium through the analysis of influent wastewater

“…Most epidemiological studies report a decline in the use of stimulants during the initial phase of the pandemic, mostly resulting from the implementation of confinement and physical distancing measures ( Ali et al, 2021 ; EMCDDA, 2020b , 2020c ; EMCDDA & EUROPOL, 2020 ; Gili et al, 2021 ; Manthey et al, 2021 ; Palamar, Le, & Acosta, 2021 ; Price et al, 2021 ), with later lifting of restrictions associated with a recovery to previous levels ( European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, 2021a ) According to the EMCDDA, the use of cocaine and MDMA seems to be the most affected by COVID-19 restrictions. However, most of the information available is compiled from online surveys with known individuals who use drugs, making it difficult to generalize the results of this subsample to the general population which contains also occasional users ( Ali et al, 2021 ; Manthey et al, 2021 ; Palamar, Le, & Acosta, 2021 ; Price et al, 2021 ). The adverse social effects of the COVID-19 measures, such as social isolation and anxiety, could potentially be a driver for first time drug usage.…”