Methadone Injection in New South Wales

Abstract

The injection of methadone is relatively common within certain geographic areas of New South Wales, especially Sydney. Our sample comprised people who were in general poorly educated, unemployed and had been long term injecting drug users with fair to poor health. Many respondents had been injecting illicit drugs besides methadone for many years. High rates of frequent injecting were reported for both illicit drugs and methadone. Respondents described the fast acting relief of injected methadone as the reason for continuing the practice.