Young People
This section contains information about the methamphetamine use patterns of Australians who are under 18 years of age.
Given the extremely small proportion of Australian youth who use methamphetamine, there is little reliable and meaningful data about this population group available. As a result, this section presents only one FAQ, drawn from the 2022-23 Australian Secondary School Students’ Alcohol and Drug (ASSAD) Survey (Cancer Council Victoria, 2024).
To be consistent with the terminology used in the ASSAD survey, this section of the NADK uses the term methamphetamine. ASSAD defines methamphetamine as speed, meth, or ice.
What proportion of Australian school students aged 12-17 years have used amphetamines?
The majority of Australian school students aged 12-17 years have never used methamphetamine† (98%). Small proportions reported using methamphetamine in the past month (1%).
Source: Cancer Council Victoria (2023). ASSAD 2022-23: Australian secondary school student’s use of alcohol and other substances.
Please note: Percentages may not tally to 100% due to rounding.
† The Australian Secondary Students’ Alcohol and Drug (ASSAD) survey defines methamphetamine as speed, meth, or ice.