Crime
This section provides information about methamphetamine-related crime (including arrests and trafficking), as well as Australian legislation regarding methamphetamine use.
The data source utilised in this section is the Australian Crime Commission's Illicit Drug Data Report 2020-21. This report contains illicit drug data collected annually by the Australian Crime Commission from state and territory police services, the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Customs and Border Protection Services, and forensic laboratories.
To be consistent with the terminology used in the Illicit Drug Data Report, this section of the NADK predominantly uses the term amphetamine-type stimulants. The Australian Crime Commission defines amphetamine-type stimulants as including amphetamine, methylamphetamine, and phenethylamines.
What are the legal penalties for using methamphetamine?
Methamphetamine is a controlled drug in Australia and is classified as a Schedule 8 (Controlled Drug) under the current Poisons Standard.
It is illegal to possess methamphetamine without lawful authority. Penalties apply for the unlawful possession, use, manufacture, importation, exportation or sale of methamphetamine. It is also an offence to drive with methamphetamine present in prescribed body fluids or to drive while impaired by methamphetamine. Penalties vary between jurisdictions but may include fines, imprisonment, licence disqualification and other sanctions.
Some states and territories operate police or court diversion programs that may refer people found in possession of small quantities of methamphetamine and other illicit drugs to treatment or education programs rather than criminal justice proceedings. To reduce the manufacture of methamphetamine, precursor chemicals such as pseudoephedrine are also subject to regulatory controls.
How many amphetamine-type stimulant arrests are made each year in Australia?
In 2020-21, there were 35,885 arrests related to amphetamine-type stimulants† in Australia. Of these, 87% were consumer arrests and 13% were provider arrests.
Source: Australian Crime Commission (2023). Illicit Drug Data Report 2020-21.
†For the purposes of this FAQ, amphetamine-type stimulants include amphetamine, methylamphetamine, and phenethylamines.
Consumer Arrests: The Australian Crime Commission differentiates between people who have been apprehended for trading in, as opposed to using, illicit drugs. Those charged with user-type offences (possessing or administering drugs for their own use) are classified as consumers.
Provider Arrests: The Australian Crime Commission differentiates between people who have been apprehended for trading in, as opposed to using, illicit drugs. Those charged with supply-type offences (importation, trafficking, selling, cultivation and manufacture) are classified as providers.
How many amphetamine-type stimulants are seized by police each year in Australia?
In 2020-21, there were 28,503 amphetamine-type stimulant† seizures in Australia, weighing a total of 6,287 kilograms.
Source: Australian Crime Commission (2023). Illicit Drug Data Report 2020-21.
†For the purposes of this FAQ, amphetamine-type stimulants include amphetamine, methylamphetamine and phenethylamines.
How many amphetamine-type stimulants are trafficked each year in Australia?
In 2020-21 there were 1,753 amphetamine-type stimulant† border detections in Australia. This amounted to a total weight of 5,291 kilograms.
In addition, 1,031 kilograms of amphetamine-type stimulant precursors were detected at the Australian border in 2020-21 (from 571 border detections).
Source: Australian Crime Commission (2023). Illicit Drug Data Report 2020-21.
†For the purposes of this FAQ, amphetamine-type stimulants include amphetamine, methylamphetamine and phenethylamines.
Precursors: Considered to be the starting materials for illicit drug manufacture. As a result of chemical reactions, the precursor’s molecular structure is modified to produce a specific illicit drug. For example, precursors such as ephedrine and pseudoephedrine can be converted into methylamphetamine.