New tool for meth addiction

A new Q&A style database on methamphetamine has been launched by Flinders University’s National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA), which the centre believes may become one of the most important tools in the battle against addiction.

Federally funded, the National Alcohol and Drug Knowledgebase (NADK) is designed to cut through the misinformation around crystal methamphetamine (or ice) and provide easy access to answers on methamphetamine, including its impact on health, law enforcement, crime, young people, medical treatment and employment.

According to statistics, 2.3% of employed Australians used methamphetamine in the past 12 months.

Compared to the total workforce, this particular drug use in the past 12 months is considered relatively high in a number of industries, including wholesale (5.3%), construction (5.2%), hospitality (3.2%), manufacturing (3.2%), mining (3.2%) and administrative services (2.8%).

Researchers painstakingly analysed vast quantities of information from a range of key methamphetamine-related datasets, resulting in detailed responses to around 100 FAQs for policymakers, researchers, service providers and law enforcement, many of which link to further supporting information.

NCETA Director Professor Ann Roche said the database was the only one available in Australia on trends and utilisation of treatment for methamphetamine-related issues.

“For example, in 2012–13, the proportion of treatment episodes for which amphetamines were the principal drug of concern increased by a third to 14% from previous years placing greater demand on treatment services,” said Professor Roche.

“In addition, it answers important and often misunderstood questions about the short- and long-term physical and psychological effects of methamphetamine and how to identify if someone is experiencing adverse effects.

“This has important implications for service providers and the way in which services are able to respond to this growing demand.”

The Knowledgebase is publicly available and can be accessed at www.nceta.flinders.edu.au.

Image caption: NCETA Director Professor Ann Roche. Image courtesy of Flinders University.