How has the number and proportion of amphetamine-related treatment episodes in Australia changed over time?
The number and proportion of treatment episodes in Australia for which amphetamines† were the principal drug of concern have increased substantially since 2011-12 with a peak in 2019-20.
In Australia, amphetamines were the principal drug of concern in 11% in 2011-12, 14% in 2012-13, 17% in 2013-14, 20% in 2014-15, 23% in 2015-16, 26% in 2016-17, 27% in 2017-18, 28% in 2018-19, 28% in 2019-20 and 24% in 2020-21.
In Australia, there were 16,875 treatment episodes where amphetamines were the principal drug of concern in 2011-12, 22,265 in 2012-13, 28,919 in 2013-14, 32,407 in 2014-15, 46,268 in 2015-16, 49,670 in 2016-17, 53,894 in 2017-18, 58,176 in 2018-19, 60,987 in 2019-20, and 54,287 in 2020-21.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services in Australia 2020-21.
† Amphetamines are Central Nervous System (CNS) stimulants that increase neurotransmitter activity. Methamphetamine is a more potent form of amphetamine. The National Minimum Data Set does not provide data on methamphetamine use alone. Instead, treatment episodes due to methamphetamine use are subsumed within ‘amphetamines’. This category includes amphetamine, dexamphetamine, methamphetamine, amphetamine analogues, and amphetamines not elsewhere classified.
Principal Drug of Concern: The main substance that leads an individual to seek treatment from an alcohol and drug treatment agency (as stated by the individual).
Treatment Episode: A period of contact between a client and a treatment provider. Only ‘closed’ treatment episodes are included in the data used here. An episode is closed if there is a change in the principal drug of concern, main treatment, or service delivery setting; if the treatment ends; or if the patient is imprisoned or dies.