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WELCOME TO THE 
ADAPT STUDY 

The ADAPT study is exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Australians who use drugs.

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PARTICIPANT RECRUITMENT IS NOW CLOSED.

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We would like to thank everyone who participated in the first survey and shared their experiences. If you have signed up for the follow-up surveys, we will be in touch when it is time to complete the next survey. 

ABOUT THE STUDY

The Australians' Drug Use: Adapting to Pandemic Threats (ADAPT) Study is exploring the short and long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the experiences of Australians who use illicit drugs. 

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This is one of the first studies globally to talk with people who use illicit drugs about the changes they are experiencing in relation to their drug use, harms, and other challenges and positives they may be experiencing.

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The researchers intend to ensure findings are shared quickly back to you and other key audiences (e.g., government health departments). This reporting will ensure drug-related issues during COVID-19 are better understood, more accurately represented, and used to inform drug treatment and harm reduction in Australia.

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Participants will have the opportunity to enter a prize draw with each survey they complete, and will be able to receive personalised confidential results over time.

To be eligible to participate in ADAPT, you will need to:

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  • Be aged 18 years or older

  • Have used illicit drugs at least monthly in 2019; this includes any of the following:

-   illegal drugs such as cannabis, MDMA, methamphetamine, cocaine, LSD, ketamine, GHB, heroin

-   prescription opioids and benzodiazepines which were not prescribed to you or which were prescribed to you but not taken in          

    accordance with prescription directions

  • Have been residing in Australia since March 2020

  • Provide your email address and mobile number if you wish to take part in the follow-up surveys (see below). Participation only in the initial online survey does not require provision of email address / mobile number.  

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You don't have to give your name, and if you give your email address / mobile number, these will not be stored with your responses.

We also do not collect IP address.

 

What's involved?

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If you join the study, we will ask you to complete one online survey  initially and follow-up surveys in 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 12 months, 2 years and 3 years. This will help us understand the longer-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated societal restrictions on people who use drugs.  

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Alternatively, you can choose to complete the first survey only, without signing up for the follow-ups.​​

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The survey covers the following topics:

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  • General information about you (demographics)

  • COVID-19 experiences (e.g. testing, diagnosis)

  • Licit and illicit drug use and behaviours

  • Current drug market trends

  • Mental and physical health

  • Access to treatment and support services

  • Harm reduction behaviours

 

Your experiences are important and will help us understand the impacts on, and needs of, people who use drugs both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Thank you, the ADAPT study team.

CONTACT ADAPT

If you have any questions, please ask us.  

Direct your inquiries to the ADAPT study team at adaptstudy@unsw.edu.au

 

If you have any questions after participating, please contact

Dr Amy Peacock, Chief Investigator

t: +61 2 9385 0282 | e: adaptstudy@unsw.edu.au 

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