Pubdate: Wed, 25 Jun 2003
Source: West Australian (Australia)
Copyright: 2003 West Australian Newspapers Limited
Contact: letters@wanews.com.au
Website: http://www.thewest.com.au
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/495
Author: Ben Ruse
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

ABUSE HEALTH FEARS

AMPHETAMINE abuse has become Australia's No. 1 illegal drug problem
and will lead to an avalanche of mental health problems in the future,
according to Parliamentary Health Secretary Trish Worth.

She said that a drop in the heroin supply from overseas had caused
drug users to turn to illegal amphetamines, such as speed and ecstasy,
which could be manufactured easily in sheds or hotel rooms.

In WA, the number of people seeking treatment for addiction to
amphetamines trebled between 1998-99 and 2001-02, mirroring a national
trend.

A national drug study last year showed that one in five Australians in
their 20s had tried illegal amphetamines.

Ms Worth was launching National Drug Action Week on Monday and said
that all States needed to do more to stop amphetamine abuse.

Although the switch from heroin to amphetamines has led to a drop in
the number of overdose deaths, Ms Worth said amphetamines made users
violent and aggressive and popular party drugs like ecstasy could lead
to long-term health problems.

"Experts tell me they don't really know enough about it. It may have
quite serious impacts on the brain and there may be an avalanche of
people in the future with Alzheimer's disease as a result," she said.

However, David Crosbie, chief executive of a rehabilitation program in
Victoria and a member of the Prime Minister's National Drug Council,
said Australians were overreacting to the use of so-called party drugs
among young people.

Ms Worth said that State governments needed to focus on treatment and
diversion programs. However, WA's moves to decriminalise cannabis
could send the wrong message to young people, though she said the
issue was not black and white.

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