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The focus in this section is on the illicit use of meth/amphetamine and other stimulants (Box STIM1).
Box STIM1: Defining amphetamines and other stimulants
Data sources on methamphetamine, amphetamine and other psychostimulants contain a variety of terms; in some instances these terms cover similar, but not the same range of drugs. This can be confusing when interpreting results across different data sources.
Below is a description of each term used in these data sources and the types of drugs they encompass:
- Amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) – covers a large range of drugs, which includes amphetamine, methylamphetamine and phenethylamines (a class of drug that includes MDMA or ‘ecstasy’).
- Amphetamines – refers to a broad category of substances. According to the Australian Standard Classification of Drugs of Concern (ASCDC) (ABS 2011), this includes amphetamine, methylamphetamine, dexamphetamine, amphetamine analogues and amphetamines not elsewhere classified. This is the term used in the Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services National Minimum Data Set (AODTS NMDS).
- Methamphetamine (also methylamphetamine) also comes in different forms, including powder/pills (speed), crystal methylamphetamine (crystal meth or ice), a sticky paste (base), and a liquid form.
- Meth/amphetamine includes methylamphetamine and amphetamine and is the term used in the National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS).
- Ecstasy (also MDMA) is often consumed in the form of a tablet or capsules, but can also be in powder or crystal form.
- Cocaine is commonly consumed in powder form, which can be snorted or dissolved in water so it can be injected.
- Psychostimulants (also stimulants) includes ecstasy, methamphetamine, cocaine and new psychoactive substances (NPS). This is the sampling criteria for participants of the Ecstasy and related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS).
Availability
People who regularly use illicit drugs report that methamphetamine and other stimulants are easy to obtain in Australia.
Findings from the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS) show that people who inject drugs commonly report it is ‘easy’ or ‘very easy’ to obtain methamphetamine and other stimulants. Specifically in 2022:
- Over 9 in 10 (91%) people who had recently used crystal methamphetamine reported that it was ‘easy’ or ‘very easy’ to obtain (Sutherland et al. 2022b, Figure 15).
- Over 3 in 5 (65%) people who had recently used cocaine reported that it was ‘easy’ or ‘very easy’ to obtain (Sutherland et al. 2022b).
Similarly, data from the 2022 Ecstasy and Related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS) show that most people who use ecstasy and other stimulants report that methamphetamine, ecstasy and cocaine are ‘easy’ or ‘very easy’ to obtain (Sutherland et al. 2022a). Findings show that:
- Perceived availability was the highest for crystal methamphetamine (92% of participants rated it ‘easy or very easy’ to obtain), an increase from 2021 (82%). Perceived availability for powder methamphetamine was lower which has remained stable relative to 2021 (59% of participants rated availability as it ‘easy or very easy’ to obtain).
- In 2022 a significant change in the perceived availability of ecstasy in all forms was reported relative to 2021. For capsules 49% of participants rated it ‘easy’ or ‘very easy’ to obtain, a decrease from 76% in 2021. Powder forms decreased to 42% from 68%, crystal declined to 49% from 66%, and pills to 48% from 61% in 2021.
- Perceived availability of cocaine remained stable relative to 2021; 79% of participants in 2022 who could comment rated it ‘easy’ or ‘very easy’ to obtain.
- The main approach for arranging the purchase of any illicit or non-prescribed drugs by participants in the previous 12 months was via social networking applications (73%) (such as Facebook, Wickr, WhatsApp, SnapChat, Grindr, Tinder) an increase from 2021 (71%). 69% of participants reported arranging purchases face-to-face, a decrease from 2021 (72%) (Sutherland et al. 2022a).
Data collection for 2022 took place from April–July for the EDRS and May–July for the IDRS. Due to COVID-19 restrictions being imposed in various jurisdictions during data collection periods for both the IDRS and the EDRS, interviews in 2020, 2021 and 2022 were delivered face-to-face as well as via telephone. This change in methodology should be considered when comparing data from the 2020, 2021 and 2022 samples relative to previous years.
The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) collects national illicit drug seizure data annually from federal, state and territory police services, including the number and weight of seizures to inform the Illicit Drug Data Report (IDDR). According to the latest IDDR, in 2019–20, around one-third of national illicit drug seizures (39,204 or 32%) were amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) (including MDMA).
The number of national ATS seizures has increased by 250% over the last decade, with 39,204 seizures in 2019–20, up from 11,212 in 2010–11. In 2019–20, ATS accounted for 33% of the total weight of illicit drugs seized nationally. The total weight of ATS seized nationally has increased 1,175% over the last decade, from 1,009 kilograms in 2010–11 to a record 12,865 kilograms in 2019–20.
The record 34,113 national amphetamines seizures in 2019–20 weighed a record 9,408 kilograms and accounted for 87% of the number and 73% of the weight of ATS seized nationally this reporting period (ACIC 2021). Research (ACIC 2019b) has shown the impact of seizures on consumption – see Supply reduction – Prohibited substances (ACIC 2021; tables S1.18 and S1.19).
In 2019–20, there were 1,377 amphetamine-type stimulant (excluding MDMA) detections at the Australian border, weighing 5,272 kilograms. The number of MDMA (ecstasy) detections at the Australian border was 2,308 in 2019–20, while the weight of MDMA detected was 1,291 kilograms. The number of national MDMA seizures was 4,981 in 2019–20, and the total weight of MDMA seized nationally was 3,214 kilograms, accounting for 13% of the number and 25% of the weight of ATS seized nationally (ACIC 2021).
Over the last decade, the number of cocaine detections at the Australian border increased by 447%, from 486 in 2010–11 to 2,660 in 2019–20. The weight of cocaine detected has increased by 9%, from 701 kilograms in 2010–11 to 763 kilograms in 2019–20 (ACIC 2021).
The number of national cocaine seizures has increased by 372% over the last decade, from 1,217 in 2010–11 to a record 5,750 in 2019–20. The weight of cocaine seized nationally increased by 138% over the same period, from 662 kilograms in 2010–11 to 1,573 kilograms in 2019–20 (ACIC 2021).
Consumption
For related content on meth/amphetamine and other stimulant consumption by region, see also:
There are differences in trends and patterns of consumption in Australia according to the type of stimulant used.
Data collection for 2022 took place from April–July for the EDRS and May–July for the IDRS. Due to COVID-19 restrictions being imposed in various jurisdictions during data collection periods for both the IDRS and the EDRS, interviews in 2020, 2021 and 2022 were delivered face-to-face as well as via telephone. This change in methodology should be considered when comparing data from the 2020, 2021 and 2022 samples relative to previous years.
Meth/amphetamine
- 1.3% of people aged 14 and over in Australia reported using meth/amphetamine in the last 12 months (Figure STIM1).
- 31% of participants in the EDRS reported use of any form of methamphetamine in the previous 6 months (Sutherland et al. 2022a).
- 81% of participants in the IDRS reported use of any form of methamphetamine in the previous 6 months (Sutherland et al. 2022a).
Self-reported data on meth/amphetamine consumption in the general Australian population has been declining since it peaked at 3.4% in 2001. There was a substantial decrease in the recent use of meth/amphetamine among people aged 20–29 (from 11.2% in 2001 to 2.4% in 2019), however, there were slight increases for people aged 40 and over (AIHW 2020, Table 4.72). It is possible that self-report surveys underestimate the true extent of meth/amphetamine use, particularly in the context of the stigmas that exist around its consumption (AIHW 2020).
In 2013, ‘crystal/ice’ replaced powder as the main form of meth/amphetamine used in the previous 12 months. In 2019, this trend continued with 50% of people who used meth/amphetamine reporting that crystal/ice was the main form used in the previous 12 months (AIHW 2020). While overall recent meth/amphetamine use declined between 2013 and 2019, the proportion using crystal/ice remained relatively stable (AIHW 2020).
Participants in the EDRS reported a decrease in the use of crystal methamphetamine in the preceding 6 months (29% in 2012 to 18% in 2022) (Sutherland et al. 2022a, Figure 16).