The Global Drug Survey (GDS) is the world’s largest online global survey of drug use.
CHSR staff members Associate Professor Jason Ferris (a core member of GDS) and Dr Cheneal Puljevic form part of a large international collaboration of esteemed researchers using GDS data.
The GDS aims to improve our understanding of how to reduce harms related to drugs. GDS data are used for research studies (with >60 peer-reviewed journal articles already published) and to create brief interventions, free online harm reduction resources and drug education materials for health and legal professionals, the entertainment industry and the general public.
2021 marks the 10th anniversary of the first ever Global Drug Survey. Since that time over 900,000 people have taken part in GDS surveys that have covered all aspects of drug use: everything from sex and drugs, drug delivery and darknet drug markets, changes in drug policy, vaping, novel drugs and the psychedelic renaissance. Throughout that diverse landscape the GDS have kept their singular focus on promoting honest conversations about drug use and helping keep people safe regardless of the legal status of the drug.
This year GDS2022 has chosen seven areas to focus on that are of vital public health importance or piqued our curiosity:
- Drug laws – how do the drug laws where you live influence your life and the decisions you make?
- ‘Skinning up’ joints with tobacco- why is it, in most countries, mixing in tobacco is the most common method of using cannabis and what would it take for people to switch to a non-tobacco route of consumption?
- No and low alcohol beers, wines and spirits – are they really helpful or just a novel marketing ploy by the industry?
- Sex and psychedelics- People are always really interested in sex, and we are currently living through a psychedelic renaissance. People like sex. Some people really like psychedelics. We want to know what happens when you combine the two?
- Drink spiking- what are people’s experience of drink spiking or other ways of being given drugs without consent?
- Illicit tobacco- In collaboration with UQ’s Centre of Research Excellence on Achieving the Tobacco Endgame, we are interested in knowing more about the types of tobacco that people smoke, and how often it is used compared to legal tobacco.
Go on… click this link and take the survey.
It’s anonymous, confidential and encrypted. It only takes 20 minutes to complete and your experiences will help inform others and influence change.
#GDS2022 #druglaws
Professor Adam Winstock, Dr Monica Barratt, Dr Emma Davies & Associate Professor Jason Ferris – GDS Core Research Team, on behalf of all at GDS
Media: A/Prof Jason Ferris and Dr Monica Barratt
