Identifying, evaluating and responding to the risk and impact of polysubstance use and new psychoactive substances among young Australians – codesigning for health

Polysubstance use, where multiple substances are consumed, is indicated in the majority of drug overdose deaths. New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), including highly potent synthetic opioids such as fentanyls and nitazenes, can be contained ‘hidden’ in drugs such as ecstasy or cocaine used by young Australians.

Led by NDRI Professor Simon Lenton, a multidisciplinary team of consumers, service providers, toxicologists, analytical chemists and researchers will recruit adolescents and young adults attending music festivals and school leavers celebrations in the ACT, Victoria and WA and combine novel quantitative and qualitative social research with drug identification technology to understand and document the risk and impact of polysubstance use and the use of NPS on their physical and mental health.

The project will provide new evidence about how young Australians think about, and experience, polysubstance use, NPS use, and their risks; and, for those young Australians who experience physical and mental health harms, the drugs they had actually ingested and the consequences. A consumer–practitioner-partner codesign process will translate this new evidence to inform, improve and develop policy and practice interventions such as peer outreach, harm reduction, drug alerts and other communication strategies.

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