Dr Campbell Aitken

Reports and other work

• A public health initiative for steroid users in Victoria.

  A public health initiative for steroid users in Victoria.

• The impact of a police crackdown on a street drug scene: evidence from the street.

  This article examines the repercussions of a police crackdown on a street heroin market in a suburb of Melbourne, Australia, as perceived by individuals involved in the market. While the data indicate that 'Operation Clean Heart' achieved its aim of diminishing the visible aspects of the street drug scene, they also suggest that the drug market quickly adapted to the new conditions, rendering the impact of the operation superficial and short-lived. Additionally, the article argues that the operation had several unintended negative consequences, some of which pose potential risks to public health.<br/><br/>The negative outcomes inferred from the data include the partial displacement of the drug scene to nearby metropolitan areas, the discouragement of safe injecting practices and safe disposal of needles and syringes, and an increase in incidents of violence and fraud. These outcomes may outweigh the perceived positive impacts of the operation, which were achieved at significant public expense. The article concludes that police crackdowns are not suitable responses to illicit drug problems. Instead, it advocates for approaches aligned with longstanding Australian policy, which incorporate and balance demand reduction, supply reduction, and harm reduction strategies.

  The impact of a police crackdown on a street drug scene: evidence from the street.

• 2019: Australia’s progress towards hepatitis C elimination annual report

  Hepatitis C poses a significant public health concern in Australia, with over 170,000 individuals estimated to be living with chronic hepatitis C infection as of the beginning of 2017. Until the availability of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for all Medicare-eligible Australians with hepatitis C infection on March 1st, 2016, there was a growing population of individuals living with hepatitis C. This trend was accompanied by an increasing burden of liver disease, rising rates of liver cancer, and premature deaths attributed to long-term hepatitis C infection.

  2019: Australia’s progress towards hepatitis C elimination annual report