CJB65
Multiple drug use among police detainees
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Summary
Aim
This paper describes the extent and nature of multiple drug use among police detainees at two Sydney police stations.
Abstract
Previous publications have shown that a high proportion of police detainees use drugs. The present paper describes the extent and nature of multiple drug use among police detainees at two Sydney police stations. Urinalysis test results indicate that 69 per cent of the sample of 1,161 detainees had used at least one drug within the three days prior to their apprehension by police. The vast majority of these drug users tested positive to more than one drug type, with more than one in five persons testing positive to a combination of three or more drugs. Of this group, more than 80 per cent tested positive to opiates in conjunction with other drugs, most commonly cannabis and benzodiazepines.