Ice and the outback: Patterns and prevalence of methamphetamine use in rural Australia

Roche, Ann; McEntee, Alice

doi:10.1111/ajr.12331

Cited by 39 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 10 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Methamphetamine was identified as being the most prevalent substance of concern, whether it was used in combination with other substances or as methamphetamine only (nominated by 63% of clients). This finding is consistent with increased methamphetamine use in Australia generally and among offenders , and an increase in demand for treatment from clients with methamphetamine dependence . Residential rehabilitation is an appropriate option for treating methamphetamine dependence, given client outcomes at 3‐ and 12‐months post treatment have been shown to be significantly better than for clients who received detoxification only .…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 77%

Understanding remote Aboriginal drug and alcohol residential rehabilitation clients: Who attends, who leaves and who stays?

Munro

Shakeshaft

Breen

et al. 2018

Drug and Alcohol Review

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Introduction and AimsAboriginal residential rehabilitation services provide healing for Aboriginal people who misuse substances. There is limited available research that empirically describes client characteristics of these services. This study examined 5 years of data of a remote Aboriginal residential rehabilitation service.Design and MethodsRetrospective analysis of 329 client admissions to Orana Haven Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre from 2011 to 2016. Multinomial and binary logistic regressions were conducted to identify trends in the data.ResultsThere were 66 admissions recorded annually, of which most identified as Aboriginal (85%). Mean length of stay was 56 days, with one in three (36%) discharging within the first month. A third (32%) completed, 47% self‐discharged and 20% house‐discharged from the program. Client age significantly increased over time (P = 0.03), with most aged from 26 to 35. Older clients were significantly more likely to readmit (P < 0.002) and stay longer than 90 days (P = 0.02). Most clients were referred from the criminal justice system, significantly increasing from 79% (2011–2012) to 96% (2015–2016) (P < 0.001) and these clients were more likely to self‐discharge (P < 0.01). Among a subset of clients, most (69%) reported concerns with polysubstance use and half (51%) reported mental illness.Discussion and ConclusionsThe current study makes a unique contribution to the literature by empirically describing the characteristics of clients of a remote Aboriginal residential rehabilitation service to more accurately tailor the service to the client's needs. Key recommendations include integrating these empirical observations with staff and client perceptions to co‐design a model of care, standardise data collection, and routinely following‐up clients to monitor treatment effectiveness.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 77%

Understanding remote Aboriginal drug and alcohol residential rehabilitation clients: Who attends, who leaves and who stays?

Munro

Shakeshaft

Breen

et al. 2018

Drug and Alcohol Review

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The link between place -in particular the conceptualisation of the 'rural' -and problematic AOD use is well-documented, particularly in the United States (Linneman & Wall, 2013;Dixon & Chartier, 2016;see also, D'Onofrio, 1997), though there has been some Australian literature (largely driven by the 'ice epidemic', see Roche, 2016;Roche & McEntee, 2017). As noted above, distance is a key factor in service accessibility, availability and effectiveness of treatment, as well as cultural understandings of how AOD use is experienced in rural settings.…”

Section: Remote and Rugged: Geographical Determinants Of Aodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

More than just a 'city problem': Drugs and alcohol (mis)use in rural and regional Australia

Groves¹

2019

International Journal of Rural Criminology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Debate about alcohol and other drugs (AODs), particularly those that are illicit and/or subject to abuse, is pervasive in the community, media and at policy-level alike. While AOD use is commonly linked to the hedonistic social spaces of urban youth, especially with drugs like crystal methamphetamine ('ice'), it is clear substance misuse is not merely a 'city problem'. Considerations of place and space, particularly the notion of what it means to be rural, are central to understanding the diverse landscape of AOD use. This paper examines key determinants that shape the experience of rural AOD (mis)use and its influence on crime and criminality. Broad application of Shaw and McKay's (1942) social disorganisation theory enables examination of rural AOD use and related crime in Australia through a lens of social organisation. Using this lens, the article employs a narrative review methodology to explore three key elements of the rural landscape: (i) accessibility of services; (ii) social and cultural pressures; and (iii) the structural and/or physical constraints of rural geography. Critical examination of these elements and associated narratives reveals the need for recognition of the human struggle linked to AOD use and related crimes as a dimension of both rural life and criminality. The article argues that the appropriate response to rural AOD use requires a paradigmatic shift from traditional law enforcement approaches to principles of harm reduction and public health. However, greater work is needed to produce evidencebased policy, address the causes of rural AOD use and provide meaningful support to this growing cohort of vulnerable members of the community.

show abstract

“…1,2 • Only a small percentage of ice users are clinically dependent. 1,2 • Only a small percentage of ice users are clinically dependent.…”

Section: Ice Usersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…• People living in rural areas are more likely to have recently used ice than people living in major cities in Australia. 1,2 • Only a small percentage of ice users are clinically dependent. 3 • In total, ice use has a much lower social cost than alcohol use.…”

Section: Ice Usersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Service providers’ experience of methamphetamine and the portrayal of the ‘ice epidemic’ in remote Australia

Cartwright

Tait

2019

Australian J Rural Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective: To contrast service providers' perceptions about crystalline methamphetamine (henceforth, ice) use and harm with information communicated in media reports and politicians' statements. Design: In-depth semi structured interviews with service providers about the nature and extent of ice use in the local community and its impact on individual services, clients and town life. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, manually analysed and coded around key themes, interpreted and independently cross-checked for context and accuracy. Setting: Two remote towns located in different states and territories operating as service hubs to very remote communities. Participants: Twenty-seven key service providers representing local organisations that engage with ice users and/or their families. Results: First, compared with alcohol, ice use and icerelated harm were insignificant at the two sites. Ice users were primarily high-earning and -functioning non-Australian Aboriginal tradesmen, and to a lesser extent, professionals and secondary school students. There were few Australian Aboriginal users. Ice was used to 'party', keep alert, and escape psychological distress. Second, the 'Ice Destroys Lives' campaign and references to an 'ice epidemic' amplified public anxiety about ice and ice-related harm in the surveyed communities. Third, the attention on ice distracted from the more extensive harm arising from alcohol use in their communities. Conclusion: The respondents questioned the notion of an 'ice epidemic' and the use of federal funding for ice-related initiatives in remote communities, especially while general alcohol and other drug services were under-resourced.

show abstract

Ice and the outback: Patterns and prevalence of methamphetamine use in rural Australia

Cited by 39 publications

References 10 publications

Understanding remote Aboriginal drug and alcohol residential rehabilitation clients: Who attends, who leaves and who stays?

Understanding remote Aboriginal drug and alcohol residential rehabilitation clients: Who attends, who leaves and who stays?

More than just a 'city problem': Drugs and alcohol (mis)use in rural and regional Australia

Service providers’ experience of methamphetamine and the portrayal of the ‘ice epidemic’ in remote Australia

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About