With reference to the drug methamphetamine:

(1)   How has the use of this drug increased over the past 10 years.

(2)   What measures has the Commonwealth Government taken to prevent an increase in its use.

(3)   How many Australians have died from using this drug, by year, over the past 10 years.

(4)   What is the average age, sex and income of methamphetamine users.

(5)   What is the estimated street value of the drug used in Australia in the past year.

(6)   What are the differences in usage between capital cities and regional areas.

(1)   The 2004 National Drug Strategy Household Survey results indicate the proportion of the population aged 14 years or over who used methamphetamines at least once in the 12 month period before being surveyed, increased from 1995 to peak at the end of the decade. From then until 2004 the results indicate a gradual decline.

(2)   Since 1997 the Australian Government has committed over $1.2 billion to the National Illicit Drugs Strategy (NIDS). NIDS provides an integrated approach to drug policy across the health, education, family services and law enforcement sectors. It includes a balanced package of measures aimed at reducing the supply of, and demand for, illicit drugs, including methamphetamines. Supply and demand reduction measures being implemented include: •       initiatives to prevent illicit drugs reaching Australian communities; to prevent domestic illicit drug manufacture; and to protect Australia’s borders from the importation of illicit drugs; •       treatment and support services for individuals affected by illicit drug use, including diversion from the criminal justice system; and •       education, prevention and information strategies to ensure that young people, parents and the community are aware of the risks of illicit drugs. Some relevant initiatives under NIDS include: National Psychostimulants Initiative (NPI) Over $15 million has been allocated to the NPI to 2009-10 to combat emerging trends in the use of illicit drugs, including methamphetamine. Work undertaken to date includes the production of guidelines for frontline workers (eg police, GPs) to assess and manage people who have been affected by psychostimulants, including methamphetamine or “ice”, development and dissemination of information resources, research into and development of good practice models for treatment, as well as the provision of training and support for GPs and health workers. A proposal to develop Australia’s first National Amphetamine Type Stimulants Strategy was endorsed on 15 May 2006 by the Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy. The Commonwealth Government will lead this work and the new strategy will focus on issues relating to methamphetamine as well as ecstasy and other related drugs. National Drugs Campaign The most recent budget has seen funding of $23.7 million for a third phase of the National Drugs Campaign. The campaign will target young Australians’ use of cannabis as well as psychostimulants such as ecstasy and methamphetamine, increasing the community’s awareness of harms associated with use of these drugs. Border Control Initiatives The Australian Federal Police and Customs have increased their capacity to detect and disrupt illicit drug trafficking by focussing on: •       improving Australia’s intelligence capability; •       combating organised importation syndicates; •       strengthening border protection; and •       building strategic international partnerships. This enhanced supply reduction effort has resulted in the seizure of more than 14 tonnes of illicit drugs since the inception of NIDS. National Strategy to Prevent the Diversion of Precursor Chemicals into Illicit Drug Manufacture The National Strategy to Prevent the Diversion of Precursor Chemicals into Illicit Drug Manufacture aims to close the channels used to divert legitimately available chemicals and equipment to illicit drug manufacture, thus reducing methamphetamine availability to the Australian community. To assist the development and implementation of the strategy, a National Working Group was formed. The Working Group brings together 45 members from federal, state and territory law enforcement, health, forensics, prosecutors and the private sector. National School Drug Education Strategy (NSDES) Through the NSDES, a total of $47.5 million has been provided by the Commonwealth Government from 1999-2000 to 2007-2008 for school drug education. This funding is directed towards building resilience in young people, fostering the capacity of school communities to provide safe and supportive school environments and enhancing school drug education programs and the management of drug related issues and incidents in schools.

(3)   According to information published by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, the numbers of accidental deaths in Australia, where methamphetamine was the principal, or an associated cause, among those aged 15-54 years between 1997 and 2004 inclusive was:

1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004
29	54	94	114	64	56	67	92

(4)   The 2004 National Drug Strategy Household Survey results show that the 20-29 year age group reported methamphetamine usage rates more than twice as high as other age groups and the male rate almost twice as high as the female rate. Therefore, typically, a methamphetamine user will be aged between 20-29 years and male. There are no reliable published data that directly report on the average income of methamphetamine users. However, the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre has reported that the typical Sydney methamphetamine user earns less than the average young adult.

(5)   It is not possible to calculate with any statistical accuracy the street value of particular drugs used in Australia over a period of time. Methamphetamine comes in various forms (such as tablets, powder, and crystal) and there is a diversity of markets for each of these forms, which influences the pricing.

(6)   Currently there are no published data on the differences in usage of methamphetamine between capital cities and regional areas.