Key findings

Heroin was the most commonly reported drug last injected in all years 2008 to 2012 and accounted for approximately one third of respondents in each survey year. Between 2008 and 2012, prevalence of heroin as the last drug injected was higher in Victoria than in any other jurisdiction and was the most common drug last injected in this state, as well as in the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales.
Methamphetamine was the second most commonly reported drug last injected and accounted for approximately one quarter of respondents in each of the survey years from 2008 to 2012. Methamphetamine was the most common drug last injected in Queensland in all of the past five years.
Pharmaceutical opioids were the third most commonly reported class of drugs last injected in all of the past five years, with prevalence stable at between 14% and 16%. In the Northern Territory pharmaceutical opioids were the most commonly reported drug last injected during the period 2008 to 2012, significantly higher than any other jurisdiction.
The proportion of respondents who reported last injecting performance and image-enhancing drugs (PIEDs) has increased significantly over the period 2008 to 2012, although the increase in prevalence was confined to New South Wales and Queensland. Approximately half of all respondents reported daily or more frequent injecting in the month prior to the survey in all years 2008 to 2012.
Re-use of needles and syringes declined significantly from 28% in 2008 to 22% in 2012. Receptive sharing of needles and syringes remained stable, ranging from 13% to 15% over the same period.
Between 2008 and 2012 HIV antibody prevalence remained low at 1.5% or less nationally and at 3% or less in all states and territories.
HCV antibody prevalence declined significantly over the period, from 62% in 2008 to 53% in 2012.