High‐frequency drug purity and price series as tools for explaining drug trends and harms in Victoria, Australia

Abstract

Decreases in methamphetamine purity-adjusted price along with the bimodality of crystal methamphetamine purity may account for some of the recent increase in methamphetamine-related harm. For a given amount spent, methamphetamine purchase power has increased and the presence of extreme purity variations may challenge individuals' control of consumption.

Amphetamine use in the fourth decade of life: Social profiles from a population‐based Australian cohort

“…Compared to the previous published report of amphetamine use in the VAHCS when respondents were aged 24 years [24], the current analysis found a lower level of 12-month use (6.5% vs. 12%) but a greater proportion of frequent use (26% vs. 11%). Over a period of the life course when levels of drug use generally decline [25], the stability or increasing rates of frequent amphetamine use likely reflects change in the form of drug used [5] tied to a transition to crystal methamphetamine [1] and increased drug purity [26]. These would be expected to increase health, social and personal harms related to use.…”

“Just not all ice users do that”: investigating perceptions and potential harms of Australia’s Ice Destroys Lives campaign in two studies

“…Currently, crystal methamphetamine (“ice”) is the purest and most commonly used form of the drug in Australia [2, 3]. There is evidence that methamphetamine-related harms (such as hospitalisations, mental health unit submissions for stimulant abuse and psychosis and arrests for possession or use) have increased in the state of Victoria since 2010 [4] in the context of major market changes [5]. Reports of increased harm have resulted in considerable community concern as evidenced by increased coverage of methamphetamine use in the Australian media [6].…”

ADHD medication overdose and misuse: the NSW Poisons Information Centre experience, 2004–2014

“…Further, there is increasing public anxiety about prescription stimulant dependence and misuse, including warnings about illicit injection of methylphenidate (Ritalin) following two recent deaths in Tasmania 6 . This is in the context of much wider concerns about the relatively high prevalence of methamphetamine dependence in Australia 7 and the increased use of methamphetamine by existing drug users, 8 which may be related to recent increases in the purity of illicit crystal methamphetamine 9 . There is also growing unease about the overdiagnosis and overtreatment of ADHD, as well as about the increasing off‐label use of these medicines to treat conditions for which the evidence base is weaker 10 …”

“…6 This is in the context of much wider concerns about the relatively high prevalence of methamphetamine dependence in Australia 7 and the increased use of methamphetamine by existing drug users, 8 which may be related to recent increases in the purity of illicit crystal methamphetamine. 9 There is also growing unease about the overdiagnosis and overtreatment of ADHD, as well as about the increasing off-label use of these medicines to treat conditions for which the evidence base is weaker. 10 The factors described here contribute to the increasing public availability of ADHD medications that can be diverted, misused and lead to overdoses.…”