poledriver
Bluelighter
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- Jul 21, 2005
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Aus - Forget Kings Cross - addicts say methamphetamine is readily available here
METHAMPHETAMINE is easier to get in Brisbane than Sydney’s notorious Kings Cross.
An Australian Institute of Criminology report drew on questionnaires completed by 550 adults held at watch-houses throughout Australia during the third quarter of 2013.
While cannabis continued to be the most common drug used, the study found 47 per cent of the sampled police detainees reported using methamphetamine in the previous 12 months.
Of those who had used in the past 30 days, more than half said they had never experienced a lack of the drug.
“This indicates that methamphetamine has remained readily available across Australia, despite an increased number of seizures by law enforcement,” the report said.
Three hundred and seventy-five detainees also volunteered a urine sample, with 33 per cent testing positive for methamphetamine — showing a 10 per cent jump in positive urine tests in less than a year.
The study found that, on average, Brisbane watch-house detainees reported the highest “ease of access” at 8.6 on the scale — with 1 signifying “extremely hard to get”, and 10 meaning “readily available”.
This was followed by Kings Cross offenders at 7.9, East Perth at 7.8 and Adelaide at 7.1.
The study found more than 30 per cent of the sampled Australian detainees noted the price of methamphetamine had risen in the past three months.
Just 14 per cent said the drug had become harder to get.
“…the majority reported that during that period they either reduced intake or abstained from using methamphetamine, without increasing their use of alcohol or other drugs,” the report said.
“In this way, reducing methamphetamine supply appears to be effective in terms of harm minimisation.”
Police made 21,056 seizures of amphetamine-type stimulants in 2012-2013, the Australian Crime Commission said.
The report said methamphetamine was a drug “of particular interest” in Australia.
While acknowledging the detainee population was likely to diverge from general drug users, the report said it allowed a “rare insight into users’ self-reported altering of alcohol and illicit drug use during periods of reduced methamphetamine supply”.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/...y-available-here/story-fnn8dlfs-1227234698339
METHAMPHETAMINE is easier to get in Brisbane than Sydney’s notorious Kings Cross.
An Australian Institute of Criminology report drew on questionnaires completed by 550 adults held at watch-houses throughout Australia during the third quarter of 2013.
While cannabis continued to be the most common drug used, the study found 47 per cent of the sampled police detainees reported using methamphetamine in the previous 12 months.
Of those who had used in the past 30 days, more than half said they had never experienced a lack of the drug.
“This indicates that methamphetamine has remained readily available across Australia, despite an increased number of seizures by law enforcement,” the report said.
Three hundred and seventy-five detainees also volunteered a urine sample, with 33 per cent testing positive for methamphetamine — showing a 10 per cent jump in positive urine tests in less than a year.
The study found that, on average, Brisbane watch-house detainees reported the highest “ease of access” at 8.6 on the scale — with 1 signifying “extremely hard to get”, and 10 meaning “readily available”.
This was followed by Kings Cross offenders at 7.9, East Perth at 7.8 and Adelaide at 7.1.
The study found more than 30 per cent of the sampled Australian detainees noted the price of methamphetamine had risen in the past three months.
Just 14 per cent said the drug had become harder to get.
“…the majority reported that during that period they either reduced intake or abstained from using methamphetamine, without increasing their use of alcohol or other drugs,” the report said.
“In this way, reducing methamphetamine supply appears to be effective in terms of harm minimisation.”
Police made 21,056 seizures of amphetamine-type stimulants in 2012-2013, the Australian Crime Commission said.
The report said methamphetamine was a drug “of particular interest” in Australia.
While acknowledging the detainee population was likely to diverge from general drug users, the report said it allowed a “rare insight into users’ self-reported altering of alcohol and illicit drug use during periods of reduced methamphetamine supply”.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/...y-available-here/story-fnn8dlfs-1227234698339
