Heroin 'kills more people than speed' - Aussie survey

[klaatu]

March 31, 2006 - 11:44PM
http://www.theage.com.au/

Heroin kills far more people than speed, or methamphetamine, according to a national drugs survey.

But the lead author of the survey says young recreational drug users need to be better educated about the risks associated with speed.

Many more people use speed than heroin, but deaths from heroin overdose remain a far greater problem than speed-related deaths.

And heroin deaths are increasing in the older, 45-54 years age group.

The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre on Friday released its latest annual report on drug induced deaths.

The new figures show there were 75 drug induced deaths in Australia in 2004 where methamphetamine was mentioned, compared to only 50 in 2003.

Just under half of the 2004 deaths, 33, occurred in NSW while just under one-third occurred in Victoria, and 15 per cent in Western Australia.

These findings are consistent with indicators of methamphetamine availability in Australia, the study says.

Recent years have seen increases in Australian border detections of methamphetamine, particularly crystal methamphetamine or ice, which is a particularly strong form of methamphetamine.

There have also been increases in the number of clandestine lab detections in Australia.

These suggest the availability of methamphetamine in stronger forms has increased in recent years.

Dr Louisa Degenhardt, lead author of the report, stressed that although the increase was of concern, heroin overdose continued to be a far greater problem.

"Even though the number of deaths has increased, it is still far lower than the number of deaths due to opioids," Dr Degenhardt said.

"Opioids remain by far the drugs that account for the majority of illicit drug related deaths, despite the fact that methamphetamine is used by so many more people."

The figures also show gradual increases in deaths among older age groups - particularly those aged between 45-54 - due to opioids.

"Often we forget older users of illicit drugs, yet these appear to be the group where increases in fatal overdoses are occurring," Dr Degenhardt said.

"Clearly we need to be doing more to help this older group to reduce their risks of overdosing on the drug."

Dr Degenhardt is calling for a response to the increasing popularity of methamphetamine.

Young recreational drug users need to be educated about the risks associated with speed.

And effort needs to be directed at limiting both the supply of methamphetamine and demand for the drug.

"Effective treatments for methamphetamine use are going to be increasingly important to circumvent the harms associated with methamphetamine," Dr Degenhardt said.


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"And heroin deaths are increasing in the older, 45-54 years age group."

So I guess the logical conclusion is for old 'uns like me to start taking Meth

Klaatu