The epidemiology of methamphetamine use and harm in Australia
Abstract
Introduction and aims. There has been considerable media attention recently upon possible increases in methamphetamine use in Australia. Much of this debate has focused upon extreme cases of problematic crystal methamphetamine use, without reference to the broader population context. This paper provides data on methamphetamine use in Australia, and documents trends in methamphetamine‐related harms. Design and Methods. Data used were from: (1) Australian Customs Service drug detections; (2) Australian Crime Commission drug seizure, arrest and clandestine laboratory detections data; (3) National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS) and Australian Secondary Student Alcohol and Drug Survey (ASSADS); (4) data from the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS) and Ecstasy and related Drug Reporting System (EDRS); and (5) data from NSW Emergency Department Information System, National Hospital Morbidity Database and Australian Bureau of Statistics causes of death databases. Results. There appears to have been an increase in both importation and local manufacture of meth/amphetamine. Population data show that meth/amphetamine use remains low and stable. However, clear increases in crystal methamphetamine use have occurred among sentinel groups of regular drug users. Frequent crystal use among regular injecting drug users is associated with earlier initiation to injecting, greater injection risk behaviours and more extensive criminal activity. In recent years, indicators of meth/amphetamine‐related harm have stabilised, following steady increases in earlier years. Discussion and Conclusions. Some methamphetamine users experience significant problems related to their use; harms are particularly prevalent among regular IDU. Methamphetamine users, however, are a diverse group, and strategies need to be appropriately targeted towards different kinds of users.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Psychological treatment, incorporating psychotherapy, psychoeducation and relapse prevention, is a major treatment for methamphetamine use that focuses on abstinence and reducing symptoms of mental ill health.
“Psychological treatment, incorporating elements such as psychotherapy, psychoeducation and relapse prevention are major treatments for MA use that focus on abstinence and reducing symptoms of mental ill health.”
From Protocol for a systematic review of psychological treatment for methamphetamine use: An analysis of methamphetamine use and mental health symptom outcomes (2017) · cites this paper as [28]
There has been a considerable amount of research on psychological treatments for treating methamphetamine use and withdrawal.
“In line with the psychological and public health implications of MA use, there has been a considerable amount of research on psychological treatments for treating MA use and withdrawal.28”
From Protocol for a systematic review of psychological treatment for methamphetamine use: An analysis of methamphetamine use and mental health symptom outcomes (2017) · cites this paper as [28]
Cites
The prevalence of psychotic symptoms among methamphetamine users
McKetin, R., McLaren, J., Lubman, D. I., & Hides, L. M. (2006) · Addiction · doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2006.01496.x · Cited by 393 · see citing works
Methamphetamine and cardiovascular pathology: a review of the evidence
Kaye, S., McKetin, R., Duflou, J., & Darke, S. (2007) · Addiction · doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2007.01874.x · Cited by 319 · see citing works
Australian Drug Trends 2000: Findings of the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS)
Topp, L., Darke, S. G., Bruno, R., FRY, C. L., Hargreaves, K., HUMENIUK, R. E., McAllister, R., O'Reilly, B., & Williams, P. R. (2001) · eCite Digital Repository (University of Tasmania) · Cited by 193 · see citing works
Self-citationSHOPTAW, S. J., & Reback, C. J. (2007) · Addiction · doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2006.01775.x · Cited by 192 · see citing works
Dunn, M., Degenhardt, L. J., Campbell, G., George, J., Johnston, J., Kinner, S. A., Matthews, A. J., Newman, J., & White, N. E. (2007) · Cited by 162 · see citing works
Self-citationTopp, L., Barker, B., & Degenhardt, L. (2004) · Drug and Alcohol Dependence · doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2003.09.001 · Cited by 150 · see citing works
Self-citationThe relationship between crystalline methamphetamine use and methamphetamine dependence
McKetin, R., Kelly, E., & McLaren, J. (2006) · Drug and Alcohol Dependence · doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2006.04.007 · Cited by 145 · see citing works
Farrell, M., Marsden, J., Ali, R. L., & Ling, W. W. (2002) · Addiction · doi:10.1046/j.1360-0443.2002.00195.x · Cited by 116 · see citing works
Gray, S. D., Fatovich, D. M., McCoubrie, D. L., & Daly, F. F. S. (2007) · The Medical Journal of Australia · doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.2007.tb00932.x · Cited by 105 · see citing works
“I inject less as I have easier access to pipes”
Leonard, L. E., DeRubeis, E., Pelude, L., Medd, E. R., Birkett, N., & Seto, J. (2007) · International Journal of Drug Policy · doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2007.02.008 · Cited by 101 · see citing works
Topp, L., Degenhardt, L. J., Kaye, S. S., & Darke, S. G. (2002) · Drug and Alcohol Review · doi:10.1080/0959523021000023199 · Cited by 97 · see citing works
Self-citationAustralian Drug Trends 1999. Findings from the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS)
Bruno, R., & McLean (2000) · Cited by 96 · see citing works
Self-citationAustralian Drug Trends 2007: Findings from the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS)
Black, E., Roxburgh, A., Degenhardt, L. J., Bruno, R., Campbell, G., de Graaff, B., Fetherston, J., Kinner, S. A., Moon, C., Quinn, B., et al. (2008) · eCite Digital Repository (University of Tasmania) · Cited by 73 · see citing works
Self-citationCocaine-related fatalities in New South Wales, Australia 1993–2002
Darke, S. G., Kaye, S. S., & Duflou, J. A. (2004) · Drug and Alcohol Dependence · doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2004.07.004 · Cited by 63 · see citing works
Australian secondary school students’ use of over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2005
White, V., & Hayman, J. (2006) · Cited by 60 · see citing works
Hospital separations for cannabis‐ and methamphetamine‐related psychotic episodes in Australia
Degenhardt, L. J., Roxburgh, A., & McKetin, R. (2007) · The Medical Journal of Australia · doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.2007.tb00933.x · Cited by 57 · see citing works
Self-citationAmphetamines as Potential Inducers of Fatalities: A review in the district of Ghent from 1976-2004
Letter, E. A. D., Piette, M. H. A., Lambert, W. E., & Cordonnier, J. A. C. M. (2006) · Medicine Science and the Law · doi:10.1258/rsmmsl.46.1.37 · Cited by 53 · see citing works
Kurtén, B. (1972) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 50 · see citing works
Topp, L., Darke, S. G., Bruno, R., FRY, C. L., Hargreaves, K., HUMENIUK, R. E., Rose, G., Najman, J. M., O'Reilly, B., & Williams, P. R. (2001) · Cited by 47 · see citing works
Self-citationAccidental drug-induced deaths due to opioids in Australia, 2013
Roxburgh, A., & Burns, L. (2017) · Cited by 43 · see citing works
Self-citationTasmanian Drug Trends 2000. Findings from the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS)
Bruno, R., & McLean, S. (2000) · eCite Digital Repository (University of Tasmania) · Cited by 38 · see citing works
Self-citationCharacteristics of drug-related hospital separations in Australia
Roxburgh, A., & Degenhardt, L. J. (2007) · Drug and Alcohol Dependence · doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2007.07.020 · Cited by 36 · see citing works
Self-citationDrug use and risk among regular injecting drug users in Australia: does age make a difference?
Degenhardt, L. J., Kinner, S. A., Roxburgh, A., et al. (2008) · Drug and Alcohol Review · doi:10.1080/09595230701750643 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
Self-citationHIV Risk Behavior Among Amphetamine Injectors at U.S. Syringe Exchange Programs
Braine, N., Jarlais, D. C. D., Goldblatt, C., Zadoretzky, C., & Turner, C. F. (2005) · AIDS Education and Prevention · doi:10.1521/aeap.2005.17.6.515 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
Kinner, S. A., & Degenhardt, L. J. (2008) · Drug and Alcohol Review · doi:10.1080/09595230801919452 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
Self-citationUnderlying causes of cocaine, amphetamine and opioid related deaths in Australia
Degenhardt, L. J., Roxburgh, A., & Barker, B. (2005) · Journal of Clinical Forensic Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.jcfm.2004.11.003 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Self-citationAustralian Drug Trends 2004: Findings from the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS)
Stafford, J., Degenhardt, L. J., Black, E., et al. (2005) · eCite Digital Repository (University of Tasmania) · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Self-citationAustralian Drug Trends 2002: Findings from the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS)
Breen, C. L., Degenhardt, L. J., Roxburgh, A., et al. (2003) · eCite Digital Repository (University of Tasmania) · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Self-citationAustralian Drug Trends 2003: Findings from the Illicit Drug Reporting System
Breen, C. L., Degenhardt, L. J., Roxburgh, A., Bruno, R., Fetherston, J., Jenkinson, R., Kinner, S. A., Moon, C.-W., Proudfoot, P., Ward, J. A., et al. (2003) · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Self-citationRelationship between Methamphetamine Use and Violent Behaviour, The
McKetin, R., McLaren, J., Riddell, S., & Robins, L. (2006) · BOCSAR NSW Crime and Justice Bulletins · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Australian Secondary Students' use of Over-the-counter and Illicit Substances in 1999
WHITE, V. M. (2001) · PsycEXTRA Dataset · doi:10.1037/e677522010-001 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Kinner, S. A., & Degenhardt, L. J. (2006) · Drug and Alcohol Review · doi:10.1080/09595230600876705 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Self-citationHärtel-Petri, R., Rodler, R., Schmeisser, U., et al. (2005) · Psychiatrische Praxis · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Monitoring the ecstasy market in Australia - challenges and successes
Kinner, S. A., Fowler, G., Fischer, J., et al. (2005) · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Self-citation
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Amphetamine-group substances and HIV
Colfax, G., Santos, G.-M., Chu, P., Vittinghoff, E., Pluddemann, A., Kumar, S., & Hart, C. (2010) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(10)60753-2 · Cited by 167 · see citing works
Crystalline methamphetamine use and methamphetamine‐related harms in Australia
Degenhardt, L., Sara, G., McKetin, R., Roxburgh, A., Dobbins, T., Farrell, M., Burns, L., & Hall, W. D. (2017) · Drug and Alcohol Review · doi:10.1111/dar.12426 · Cited by 159 · see citing works
Self-citationStuart, A. M., Baker, A. L., Denham, A. M. J., Lee, N. K., Hall, A., Oldmeadow, C., Dunlop, A., Bowman, J., & McCarter, K. (2020) · Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment · doi:10.1016/j.jsat.2019.09.005 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
Stuart, A., Baker, A. L., Bowman, J., McCarter, K., Denham, A. M. J., Lee, N., Colyvas, K., & Dunlop, A. (2017) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2016-015383 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
“In line with the psychological and public health implications of MA use, there has been a considerable amount of research on psychological treatments for treating MA use and withdrawal.(28) Thus, psychological treatment is the primary treatment available for people who use MA, and also appears to have the most solid e…”
Background
- Authors
- DEGENHARDT, L., ROXBURGH, A., BLACK, E., BRUNO, R., CAMPBELL, G., KINNER, S., & FETHERSTON, J.
- Affiliations
- UNSW Sydney (AU)
- University of Tasmania (AU)
- The University of Queensland (AU)
- Curtin University (AU)
- Corresponding author
- DEGENHARDT, LOUISA
- Venue
- Drug and Alcohol Review
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2008-05
- Volume
- 27
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 243-252
- ISSN
- 0959-5236 (ISSN-L)
- 1465-3362
- OpenAlex
- W2117966460
- Cited by
- 134
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 10
- FWCI
- 1.49
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Drug and Alcohol Review (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- eCite Digital Repository (University of Tasmania) (submittedVersion)
- eSpace (Curtin University) (submittedVersion)
- Figshare (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Social Sciences › Demography › Youth, Drugs, and Violence
- Keywords
- methamphetamine use, crystal methamphetamine, people who inject drugs, drug-related harm, illicit drug production, drug use trends, harm reduction, drug offenses, drug-related deaths
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Central Nervous System Stimulants, Australia, Child, Commerce, Crime, Female, Humans, Male, Methamphetamine, Risk Factors, Risk-Taking, Illicit Drugs, Substance Abuse, Intravenous, Amphetamine-Related Disorders
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
