Drug use trajectories in Melbourne: How longitudinal studies can help us better understand people who use drugs

Research with people who use drugs is most frequently cross sectional. But we know people have ups and downs over their 'careers'. With over 2000 people now recruited 'SuperMIX' is Australia's largest and longest running study with people who inject drugs.

 

In this presentation findings and insights collected from participants will be presented as well as reflections from me on being involved with such a unique study for the last 15 years. 

 

Peter Higgs (PhD, BSW) is a Burnet Principal Research Fellow and Honorary in the Department of Public Health at La Trobe University. He has over 25 years’ experience working in social and behavioural research. He currently works on longitudinal research studies and has enduring relationships with cohorts of people using drugs and ongoing relationships with key public health scientists and community organisations.