Increased demand for amphetamine treatment in rural Australia

Abstract

Background A substantial increase in substance treatment episodes for methamphetamine problems suggests characteristics of the treatment population could have changed and that targeted treatment programs are required. To determine who methamphetamine treatment should be designed for this study has two aims. First, to empirically describe changes in amphetamine treatment presentations to a rural NSW drug and alcohol treatment agency over time. Second, to examine how these characteristics may affect the likelihood of being treated for amphetamines compared to other drugs. Method The Australian Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services National Minimum Data Set (AODTS-NMDS) containing closed treatment episodes from a single agency from three time periods was used. Characteristics of people receiving amphetamine treatments in these three periods were compared and the effects of these characteristics on the odds of being treated for amphetamine were estimated using a logistic regression model. The characteristics utilised in the analysis include age, sex, Indigenous status, usual accommodation, living arrangement, source of referral and source of income. Results The proportion of amphetamine treatment episodes doubled from 2006/2007 to 2015/2016 and overtook alcohol as the most commonly treated principal drug of concern. The estimated proportion of amphetamine treatments showed an increment across all ages and for men and women. It was found that younger people, women, people in temporary accommodation or homeless, people who were self-referred and people whose main source of income was not through employment are more likely to be treated for amphetamine use. Conclusion Significant changes over time in the age, sex and Indigenous status of people receiving treatment for amphetamine as the principal drug of concern requires service delivery to match demand from younger people, particularly women; and Indigenous people. The needs and preferences for treatment of younger women who use amphetamine will be important factors in treatment planning service providers who are more used to providing treatment for young men who use cannabis and older men who use alcohol. Further research on women’s experiences in treatment and outcomes would be useful for informing treatment practices. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13722-019-0144-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Feasibility and pilot efficacy of cognitive remediation for people in residential substance use treatment

“…Both groups were representative of those usually attending the treatment program. The sex split was typical of Australian substance treatment populations generally [34]. The CR program was embedded within the usual rehabilitation centre schedule with all residents expected to participate as was routine practice.…”

A Narrative Review of the Recent ‘Ice’ Epidemic: An Australian Perspective

“…With regards to substance misuse AIHW have done extensive research regarding alcohol and tobacco use, however the use of methamphetamine specifically has not been as formally investigated or reported between rural/regional and metro Australia at a national level as it very frequently gets pooled together with all stimulant drugs. [9][10][11] Of specific interest as a subgroup of regional/remote Australia are Indigenous Australians, considering they proportionally make up a larger part of these populations than non-indigenous Australians with upwards of 60% living outside of major cities. 13 As such, any analysis of differences between Metro/Non-Metro Australia will likely encounter intersectional effects from issues and experiences faced by Indigenous Australians.…”

“…Within Australia, there have been well documented disparities in health outcomes between those living in Urban centres as opposed to Regional/Remote Australia. 10 , 11 According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), Australians living in rural/remote areas were more likely to have higher levels of alcohol and tobacco use, increased total disease burden compared to urban areas, decreased health access opportunities and employment as well as higher levels of preventable disease and injury in general. 7 , 10 , 11 Despite these trends, Australians living outside of major cities reported experiencing higher life satisfaction and communal integration.…”

“… 10 , 11 According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), Australians living in rural/remote areas were more likely to have higher levels of alcohol and tobacco use, increased total disease burden compared to urban areas, decreased health access opportunities and employment as well as higher levels of preventable disease and injury in general. 7 , 10 , 11 Despite these trends, Australians living outside of major cities reported experiencing higher life satisfaction and communal integration. 12 This is not surprising considering that according to the social determinants of health approach to public health poorer social/economic conditions have a downstream negative effect on healthcare at both a system and individual level.…”

“…With regards to substance misuse AIHW have done extensive research regarding alcohol and tobacco use, however the use of methamphetamine specifically has not been as formally investigated or reported between rural/regional and metro Australia at a national level as it very frequently gets pooled together with all stimulant drugs. 9 - 11 …”