Illicit drug‐related harm during the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games: implications for public health surveillance and action

Abstract

Enhanced surveillance of adverse events following illicit drug use, possibly targeting known 'hot-spots', should be considered for future mass events. Advance preparation of preventive strategies, such as 'party-safe' messages, will enable rapid response to unusual patterns of illicit drug-related harm during future mass events.

The health and socioeconomic impacts of major multi-sport events: systematic review (1978-2008)

“…20 Presentations peaked 24 hours after the closing ceremony (35.0 per day) and were higher at weekends (16.6 v with 9.2 during the week; P=0.001). Presentations of ecstasy related and amphetamine related problems increased during the games (daily mean of 5.1 compared with 1.7 during the two weeks before; P=0.007) but the level of heroin related presentations was unchanged (daily mean of 4.5 compared with 4.2; P=0.8).…”

It's time for Canadian community early warning systems for illicit drug overdoses

“…One of the more responsive systems in terms of monitoring and notification of illicit drug reactions described in the literature is the surveillance system outlined by Indig and colleagues [32]. The authors describe the coordinated effort of 15 emergency departments that were in operation for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.…”

The Sydney Olympics: A win for public health

“…These included injuries caused by broken glass at an Olympic entertainment venue, an increase in emergency presentations for injuries relating to foot-propelled scooters, a cluster of emergency presentations apparently related to the use of the drug ecstasy, and an increase in presentations for gastrointestinal symptoms at one emergency department. 4,10,11 No outbreaks of food-borne illness were detected. More than one million meals were served at the athletes' village.…”