NEWS: SMH - 01/04/2006 'Rising toll from party drug's use, say doctors'

[hoptis]

Rising toll from party drug's use, say doctors
By Ruth Pollard Health Reporter
April 1, 2006

DEATHS and harm from the use of methamphetamines, particularly the potent drug ice, are increasing, with experts warning that until there is greater investment in treatment programs the casualties will continue to climb.

But despite the rise in the number of people using ice - also known as crystal - opioids including heroin were still by far the most harmful drug, accounting for 357 deaths in 2004.

Figures from a National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre report on accidental overdoses show that there were 75 deaths related to methamphetamine, an increase of 50 per cent on the previous year.

Just under half the deaths occurred in NSW, said Louisa Degenhardt, a senior lecturer at the centre.

"Opioids remain by far the drugs that account for the majority of illicit drug-related deaths, despite the fact that methamphetamine is used by so many more people.

"We are also seeing gradual increases in deaths among older age groups due to opioids, so we need to work with current users … to see what risks they are taking."

Dr Degenhardt also called for more effective interventions and treatments for methamphetamine users who wish to reduce their use or stop using.

The report found the figures were consistent with reports of increased physical and mental harm experienced by users of methamphetamines.

Related hospital stays have increased over the past decade, as have numbers receiving treatment for dependence.

Not only has there been an increase in Australian border detections of crystal, there have been increases in the number of clandestine labs used to manufacture it being found in Australia, suggesting increased availability.

"We started seeing increases in the stronger forms in the late 1990s," Dr Degenhardt said. "This is a much more widespread drug than heroin ever was … this is a shift being seen around the world.

"The harms that we see from methamphetamine use often aren't fatal overdoses. It is more likely to be people having a drug-induced psychosis, hurting themselves, or becoming violent."

Police, emergency department workers and drug treatment experts were seeing the "very real and dangerous consequences" of the widespread use of these drugs.

The 2004 National Drug Strategy household survey said 3.2per cent of people reported using the drug in the previous year.

The deputy director of the St Vincent's Hospital emergency department, Paul Preisz, said the hospital was seeing increasing numbers of people who had fallen into trouble because of their methamphetamine use.

"They are not pure pharmacology problems - there is a range of harm that is much broader than death," Dr Preisz said.

"We are seeing people who are victims of assault and crime, where they are having trouble coping with family and work and relationships, and it is a whole range of people, not a stereotypical group."

From Sydney Morning Herald

 

[Splatt]

How are people dieing from Methamphetamine?

Long-term abuse leading to overdose? (which normally takes a decade or longer), people prone to heart attack and stroke?

 

[hoptis]

Heroin causing more deaths than speed
From: AAP
April 01, 2006


HEROIN kills far more people than speed, or methamphetamine, according to a national drugs survey.

But the lead author of the survey says young recreational drug users need to be better educated about the risks associated with speed.

Many more people use speed than heroin, but deaths from heroin overdose remain a far greater problem than speed-related deaths.

And heroin deaths are increasing in the older, 45-54 years age group.

The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre today released its latest annual report on drug induced deaths.

The new figures show there were 75 drug induced deaths in Australia in 2004 where methamphetamine was mentioned, compared to only 50 in 2003.

Just under half of the 2004 deaths, 33, occurred in NSW while just under one-third occurred in Victoria, and 15 per cent in Western Australia.

These findings are consistent with indicators of methamphetamine availability in Australia, the study says.

Recent years have seen increases in Australian border detections of methamphetamine, particularly crystal methamphetamine or ice, which is a particularly strong form of methamphetamine.

There have also been increases in the number of clandestine lab detections in Australia.

These suggest the availability of methamphetamine in stronger forms has increased in recent years.

Dr Louisa Degenhardt, lead author of the report, stressed that although the increase was of concern, heroin overdose continued to be a far greater problem.

"Even though the number of deaths has increased, it is still far lower than the number of deaths due to opioids," Dr Degenhardt said.

"Opioids remain by far the drugs that account for the majority of illicit drug related deaths, despite the fact that methamphetamine is used by so many more people.".

The figures also show gradual increases in deaths among older age groups – particularly those aged between 45-54 – due to opioids.

"Often we forget older users of illicit drugs, yet these appear to be the group where increases in fatal overdoses are occurring," Dr Degenhardt said.

"Clearly we need to be doing more to help this older group to reduce their risks of overdosing on the drug."

Dr Degenhardt is calling for a response to the increasing popularity of methamphetamine.

Young recreational drug users need to be educated about the risks associated with speed.

And effort needs to be directed at limiting both the supply of methamphetamine and demand for the drug.

"Effective treatments for methamphetamine use are going to be increasingly important to circumvent the harms associated with methamphetamine," Dr Degenhardt said.

From News.com.au

 

[sonicnature]

NEWS: Heroin 'kills more people than speed'

[Threads merged. hoptis]

Heroin 'kills more people than speed'

March 31, 2006 - 11:44PM



Heroin kills far more people than speed, or methamphetamine, according to a national drugs survey.

But the lead author of the survey says young recreational drug users need to be better educated about the risks associated with speed.

Many more people use speed than heroin, but deaths from heroin overdose remain a far greater problem than speed-related deaths.

And heroin deaths are increasing in the older, 45-54 years age group.

The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre on Friday released its latest annual report on drug induced deaths.

The new figures show there were 75 drug induced deaths in Australia in 2004 where methamphetamine was mentioned, compared to only 50 in 2003.

Just under half of the 2004 deaths, 33, occurred in NSW while just under one-third occurred in Victoria, and 15 per cent in Western Australia.

These findings are consistent with indicators of methamphetamine availability in Australia, the study says.

Recent years have seen increases in Australian border detections of methamphetamine, particularly crystal methamphetamine or ice, which is a particularly strong form of methamphetamine.

There have also been increases in the number of clandestine lab detections in Australia.

These suggest the availability of methamphetamine in stronger forms has increased in recent years.

Dr Louisa Degenhardt, lead author of the report, stressed that although the increase was of concern, heroin overdose continued to be a far greater problem.

"Even though the number of deaths has increased, it is still far lower than the number of deaths due to opioids," Dr Degenhardt said.

"Opioids remain by far the drugs that account for the majority of illicit drug related deaths, despite the fact that methamphetamine is used by so many more people."

The figures also show gradual increases in deaths among older age groups - particularly those aged between 45-54 - due to opioids.

"Often we forget older users of illicit drugs, yet these appear to be the group where increases in fatal overdoses are occurring," Dr Degenhardt said.

"Clearly we need to be doing more to help this older group to reduce their risks of overdosing on the drug."

Dr Degenhardt is calling for a response to the increasing popularity of methamphetamine.

Young recreational drug users need to be educated about the risks associated with speed.

And effort needs to be directed at limiting both the supply of methamphetamine and demand for the drug.

"Effective treatments for methamphetamine use are going to be increasingly important to circumvent the harms associated with methamphetamine," Dr Degenhardt said.

© 2006 AAP


From: http://www.theage.com.au/news/Natio...ople-than-speed/2006/03/31/1143441343144.html

 

[marklar_the_23rd]

And effort needs to be directed at limiting both the supply of methamphetamine and demand for the drug.

try giving us an alternative that is not caffiene! then we wont want to take meth!