BINGEING ON PSYCHOSTIMULANTS IN AUSTRALIA - DO WE KNOW WHAT IT MEANS (AND DOES IT MATTER)

Bingeing on psychostimulants, considered to be the most hazardous patt ern of use, is usually characterised as repeated use over several days involving the administration of high doses by injection. Drug users r ecruited from a variety of sources were asked what they meant by binge ing, Both qualitative and quantitative analyses were undertaken. The d imensions of bingeing are reported. Opportunity, drug related cues and psychological factors operate as cues to commence and cease bingeing. Polydrug use and injecting drug use appear to be salient characterist ics of drug users who binge. It is concluded that bingeing is a more c omplex and variable phenomenon than previously thought, acid should be considered in developing harm reduction strategies.