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NIDIP was established in the recognition that there was a greater need for the regular dissemination of trends in the epidemiology of drug-related harms in Australia. It was also established to provide comparable monitoring at an international level as there is increasing recognition among international organisations and countries of the need for evidence based decision making in order to respond effectively to drug-related problems, particularly given the transborder issues associated with global drug trafficking. The recognition of a national and internationally comparable approach to illicit drug-related surveillance and monitoring is highlighted through a number of countries with illicit drug data collections in place (e.g. the Community Epidemiology Working Group on Illicit Drugs (CEWG) in the U.S. and the European Union European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA)) as well as international efforts to coordinate global drug trends. The benefits of NIDIP then, include the enhanced dissemination of information on trends in harms related to opioid and psychostimulant use and use of prescription drugs, and a greater evidence base for the development of policy responses and interventions in relation to these harms. NIDIP also provides comparable monitoring of trends at an international level.

The aims of the National Illicit Drug Indicators Project (NIDIP) are to provide epidemiological data on trends over time in drug-related harms, to complement other Australian monitoring systems such as the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS) and the Ecstasy and related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS), and to improve the understanding of, and systematically track changes in, drug-related harms for both illicit and prescription drugs. 

NIDIP has established a comprehensive collection of data sources and has conducted reviews of drug-related indicators at the national level. These indicators include information on population patterns of drug use from national surveys, data on drug overdose deaths, drug-related morbidity and drug treatment data, indicators of drug purity and seizures, and drug-related crime statistics. Analyses of these indicators are conducted and disseminated on a regular basis.

The project publishes annual reports on drug-induced deaths and drug-related hospitalisations on the NDARC website. Additionally, it produces comprehensive analyses of trends in drug use and related harms over time, utilising a range of data sources for peer-reviewed journal articles. These reports and articles aim to provide a thorough overview of trends in drug use and associated harms in Australia. By combining data from multiple sources, we strive to offer insights that inform public health policies and interventions.