Are male or female meth/amphetamine users in Australia more likely to use crystal methamphetamine (ice)?
Among Australians who used meth/amphetamine† in the past 12 months, men are more likely than women to report that they have ever used crystal methamphetamine (ice), and that ice is the main form of meth/amphetamine that they use.
Among Australian men who used meth/amphetamine in the past 12 months, 73% report ever using crystal methamphetamine (ice), with 27% never having used crystal methamphetamine. Among Australian women who used meth/amphetamine in the past 12 months, 67% report ever using crystal methamphetamine (ice), with 33% never having used crystal methamphetamine. Among Australian men who used meth/amphetamine in the past 12 months, 61% reported that crystal methamphetamine (ice) was the main form that they used, with 39% mainly using other forms of methamphetamine. Among Australian women who used meth/amphetamine in the past 12 months, 51% reported that crystal methamphetamine (ice) was the main form that they used, with 49% mainly using other forms of methamphetamine.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). 2016 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NCETA secondary analysis, 2018).
† Meth/amphetamine: This term covers a range of stimulant drugs including methamphetamine and amphetamine. The National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS) described meth/amphetamine as including drugs commonly known as speed, ice, crystal, whizz, Ritalin, or pseudoephedrine-based cold and flu tablets.