Does meth/amphetamine use in Australia vary by geographic location?
Australians living in outer regional/remote/very remote locations are more likely to have used meth/amphetamine† in their lifetime and in the past 12 months, compared to Australians living in major cities or inner regional locations.
Among Australians living in major cities, 6.9% used meth/amphetamine in their lifetime, 2.1% in the past 12 months, 0.7% in the past month, and 0.4% in the past week. Among Australians living in inner regional locations, 6.3% used meth/amphetamine in their lifetime, 1.6% in the past 12 months, 0.7%* in the past month, and 0.5%* in the past week. Among Australians living in outer regional/remote/very remote locations, 8.1% used meth/amphetamine in their lifetime, 2.6% in the past 12 months, 1.1%** in the past month, and 0.6%** in the past week. * Estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution. ** Estimate has a relative standard error greater than 50% and is considered too unreliable for general use.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). 2013 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NCETA secondary analysis, 2015).
† 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.
* Estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution.
** Estimate has a relative standard error greater than 50% and is considered too unreliable for general use.