NEWS- SMH 13/10/07 Ice abuse declines as heroin returns

[Chronik Fatigue]

Ice abuse declines as heroin returns

Bellinda Kontominas Medical Reporter
October 13, 2007
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USE of the drug crystal methamphetamine, or ice, has decreased among regular drug users, but heroin is again gaining in popularity.

These are the key findings of two studies by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, which will be presented at the National Drug Trends Conference in Sydney on Monday.

The studies found crystal meth use among regular injecting drug users dropped from 57 per cent to 47 per cent between 2006 and 2007. Large decreases in ice use were recorded in Perth, Brisbane and Canberra, which had experienced very high levels of use in previous years.

The national decrease was due to a growing social stigma attached to ice as users discovered some of the negative consequences, researchers said - not due to decreased availability or an increase in the drug's cost.

Associate Professor Louisa Degenhardt, of the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre at the University of NSW, said both injecting and smoking ice posed "significant risks" which users needed to be educated about.

Professor Degenhardt said heroin users were returning to old patterns of use as the drug's availability increased. In Sydney, the median days of use increased from 72 to 96 out of the past 180.

Alarmingly, 21 per cent of regular injecting drug users report using "brown" heroin, a more pure variation of the drug which has an increased risk of overdose.

Research was conducted by interviewing regular drug users and professionals in drug-related fields. The results were then compared with trends observed in other indicators of drug use, such as drug seizures, overdoses, arrests and treatment numbers.

"The major benefit of our drug monitoring systems is that we can detect new drug trends as they are emerging - it is our alarm bell," Professor Degenhardt said. "Without a system designed to detect new trends, we are always playing catch-up with major problems long after they have begun."

SMH

 

[static_mind]

Watch as the gov claims the decrease in ice is as a result of tough on drugs but will keep quite about the rise in Heroin use.

 

[Chronik Fatigue]

LOL, they did the same thing when heroin use dropped and ice spiked 8(

 

[lil angel15]

Ice use drops, heroin use rises
Saturday, 13 October , 2007 08:12:00
Reporter: Michael Turtle

ELIZABETH JACKSON: For the first time this decade, the annual drug trend figures show a drop in the use of crystal methamphetamine or ice.

But at the same time the figures indicate that the heroin drought might be over.

Here's our Youth Affairs Reporter, Michael Turtle.

MICHAEL TURTLE: At the Salvation Army's detox centre in Sydney's Surry Hills, there are 10 beds.

The charity's Graham Drew says recently there's been a change in the drugs that people using those beds are seeking help for.

GRAHAM DREW: Well, I've asked some of our frontline people and they said over the last few weeks there has been a … they have noticed a trend where there are a drop-off in the numbers of people coming in addicted to ice and, correspondingly, a spiked increase in the number of people using heroin.

MICHAEL TURTLE: And that fits with the latest data from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre.

The centre's Louisa Degenhardt says there's been a trend away from ice, and that's probably because it's now got a bad reputation.

LOUISA DEGENHARDT: And I think it's just experience. I mean, there's a lot of people who have had negative effects of using the drug, because they've developed problems with it or it's had acute negative effects. And I think it's about people learning that there are risks and choosing not to take them.

MICHAEL TURTLE: At the Salvo's detox centre, John has checked himself in for his ice addiction, and he knows all about the negative effects it has.

JOHN: And I've seen myself, like, a few friends gone nuts and absolutely just been violent for no reason, aggressive, just going out looking to get into punch-ups, looking to get into fights, looking to destroy things, just going along, like people will just set fires in otto bins and just let them burn down to a puddle on the ground, like just random acts of violence and aggression really.

MICHAEL TURTLE: The annual drug figures, though, show that heroin is starting to be used more commonly again.

It's been years since the heroin drought was credited with slowing the use of the drug, and Professor Degenhardt believes the availability may be on the rise again.

This is probably linked with increased production in places like Afghanistan.

For the Federal Government, it presents a constantly evolving challenge.

The Minister responsible for drug policy, Christopher Pyne, claims some credit for the drop in ice.

CHRISTOPHER PYNE: Look, I think it's a combination of factors. One would be the education campaign that the Government has run, recently of course on the television but also publicly over the last few years we've taken a very firm line on the use of illicit drugs, and particularly with respect to ice.

I think the media has played an important part in highlighting the dangers of ice, and obviously drug users are responding to that, which is pleasing.

ELIZABETH JACKSON: And that's Christopher Pyne ending Michael Turtle's report.

ABC Online

 

[8L4YN3]

Honestly, how many meth users would have actually stopped using because they're saw them ads? lol.

I've lost count how many times ive been high and have been laughing at the girl picking her skin.

 

[Jackal]

Rather be doped than on Ice anyday. Fucking speed alone is bad enough . . .

 

[DoctorShop]

I wrote a thread about this a year or so ago.

This trend happens on a smaller scale amongst addicts as well. You may use meth everyday and need a change, so you'll use heroin for a few days, then go back to meth.

 

[marklar_the_23rd]

The Minister responsible for drug policy, Christopher Pyne, claims some credit for the drop in ice.

CHRISTOPHER PYNE: Look, I think it's a combination of factors. One would be the education campaign that the Government has run, recently of course on the television but also publicly over the last few years we've taken a very firm line on the use of illicit drugs, and particularly with respect to ice.

I think the media has played an important part in highlighting the dangers of ice, and obviously drug users are responding to that, which is pleasing.

Can this man be any more clueless?

I wish we could vote for the actual portfolios that Politicians preside over. Is it that hard for a doctor to be assigned a portfolio that is clearly a Health Issue?

 

[Nwalmaer]

"brown" heroin, a more pure variation of the drug which has an increased risk of overdose.

Right...

 

[mepat1111]

Since when was brown smack more pure? Of the smack I've had, everything has been pretty even quality except some really awesome white I picked up apparently from the 'perso' stash. Maybe this is an availability issue and shouldn't be discussed, but I really don't see how brown gear is better than white gear.

Christopher Pyne is one of the biggest idiots I've ever heard, honestly one of the worst politicians in government right now.

Not sure about this trend, personally I'd used crystal plenty up until the last few months when I've started to use smack more often. So it adds up for my personal experience, but I haven't noticed a trend amoungst people I know.

 

[juice_soldier]

To be honest, and also noted; i don't think they mentioned melbourne's ice problem. Meth has probably the worst strangleholds in melbourne and sydney (from what i've observed) And I don't think heroin will be taking over as the party drug to do when you're out with the boys with a crackpipe in hand.

 

[hyroller]

exactly. i can't see ice dropping off the map anytime soon.

although i've gone off smoking ice lately and started eating speed. makes me feel much more energised as opposed to just wired. still, even when i smoked heavily, it did cross my mind a number of times how much i'd rather be smoking h instead. it's just a matter of availability/quality i guess.. good h is so much harder to come by than good ice.

 

[juice_soldier]

^How can you even compare the two drugs? because of their effect and social stigmas? They are completely different. Opiates and Amphetamines can't even be measured together on a scale of danger or upscale/downscale in use because all people have their preference to uppers or downers

 

[tryfound]

exactly. i can't see ice dropping off the map anytime soon.

although i've gone off smoking ice lately and started eating speed. makes me feel much more energised as opposed to just wired. still, even when i smoked heavily, it did cross my mind a number of times how much i'd rather be smoking h instead. it's just a matter of availability/quality i guess.. good h is so much harder to come by than good ice.

I've started snorting mine. Feels nice and clean that way actually. It also isn't so 'wow' when you do a line as opposed to inhaling a shitload, holding it in and exhaling...so it means I have less of it because you don't really get that urge to keep having more when you rack it (well I don't...) If I absolutely have to smoke some I'll use foil.

In relation to this article, from my own day to day observations ice use in Sydney is still steady/on the rise. I meet new people all the time who surprisingly do the same things I do...like a lot of the newbies at my work.

Not to mention the amount of people I know on duramine. That stuff is making its way around lately.

 

[LSD]

Rather be doped than on Ice anyday. Fucking speed alone is bad enough . . .

From what i've read, other than physical withdrawls, smack isn't toxic so i agree with you.

BUT its got me wondering...

What's worse for the community?

 

[Splatt]

I dont buy the smack isnt toxic thing, and if its true GHB is less toxic.
Ohh.. touch a stigma did I? They both make you nod hard on high doses. Cept one kills alot, lot more than the other.. the big Harry.

 

[rm2x]

To be perfectly honest as much as I don't like having to deal with addicts at my work, I would much rather deal with a smackhead than an ice freak.
Smackheads can be reasoned with, but try reasoning with someone that is mentally ill and coming down off methamphetamine, it's a whole different story.

 

[rm2x]

From what i've read, other than physical withdrawls, smack isn't toxic so i agree with you.

BUT its got me wondering...

What's worse for the community?

it's kind of like comparing dog shit to cat shit, any addictive drug is shit.... but smackheads can 'normalise' themselves and actually function as useful members of society, speedfreaks just seem to go off the deep end after a while

 

[cakes]

No coke = more ice users?

I am thinking that the authorities in all their great wisdom of making sydney's cocaine very scarce will end up with a whole new lot of ice users . That is coke users who are desperate to get something ,but with nothing about ('cept shitty coke , if it even is coke - more likely amps + local anaesthetic ) will turn to ice which seems to be readily available, which will create a big headache . What do others think?

[EDIT: Threads merged. Seemed more suitable to talk about this here, please keep away from availability discussion. hoptis]

 

[phase_dancer]

Perhaps, but most coke lovers I've met hate amphetamines, so I don't think most of the coke market would shift to meth.