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Date: November 22, 2024 Fri
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Results for methamphetamine
30 results foundAuthor: O'Connor, Jean Title: From Policy to Practice: State Methamphetamine Precursor Control Policies Summary: This report discusses state methamphetamine laws and regulations. Details: Berrien Springs, MI: Andrews University, 2007 Source: The MayaTech Corporation; University of Michigan Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 117150 Keywords: Law and LegislationMethamphetamine |
Author: U.S. Department of Justice. National Drug Intelligence Center Title: Marijuana and Methamphetamine Trafficking on Federal Lands Threat Assessment Summary: Drug trafficking organizations, criminal groups, and independent traffickers frequently produce and transport illicit drugs, particularly marijuana and methamphetamine, in or through federal lands. The largest seizures of cannabis from federal lands have been in California and Kentucky, where the primary producers are Mexican drug trafficking organizations and Caucasian independent dealers, respectively. Mexican drug trafficking organizations and criminal groups smuggle marijuana across the Southwest Border through federal lands; Canada-based criminal groups, outlaw motorcycle gangs, and independent dealers smuggle marijuana through federal lands along the Northern Border. Details: Johnstown, PA: National Drug Intelligence Center, 2005. 14p. Source: Year: 2005 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 116184 Keywords: CannabisDrug TraffickingMarijuanaMethamphetamineOrganized CrimeSmuggling (Drugs) |
Author: Cobb, Kimberly Title: South Dakota Intensive Methamphetamine (IMT) Program Summary: This report summarizes the technical assistance provided to the Intensive Methamphetamine (IMT) program in South Dakota; one of the three sites chosen to receive technical assistance by the American Probation & Parole Association. The IMT program presents a unique organizational and operating structure encompassing the South Dakota Department of Corrections, the Division of Pardons and Paroles, Halfway Houses, and the Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse. These organizations have come together under this program to deliver comprehensive and targeted reentry programming for women offenders identified as having a methamphatamine abuse/dependence diagnosis. Details: Lexington, KY: American Probation & Parole Association, 2007(?). 36p. Source: Technical Assistance Project Report Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 118341 Keywords: Drug Abuse TreatmentDrug OffendersMethamphetamineReentry (South Dakota)Women Offenders |
Author: Chalmers, Jenny Title: How do Methamphetamine Users Respond to Changes in Methamphetamine Price? Summary: One of the core objectives of supply-side drug law enforcement is to reduce drug use by raising the cost of buying drugs. The effectiveness of this strategy depends on how illicit drug users respond to the rise in costs. The aim of this study was to estimate how methamphetamine users would respond to changes in the prices of methamphetamine and heroin, using hypothetical drug purchasing scenaries. Details: Sydney: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2009. 15p. Source: Crime and Justice Bulletin; Contemporary Issues in Crime and Justice, No. 134 Year: 2009 Country: Australia URL: Shelf Number: 118546 Keywords: Drug EnforcementDrug OffendersHeroinMethamphetamine |
Author: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Title: Cannabis in Africa: An Overview Summary: This paper summarizes information on cannabis in Africa from the 2006 and 2007 editions of the United Nation's Office on Drugs and Crime's World Drug Report. Details: Vienna: UNODC, 2007. 20p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2007 Country: Africa URL: Shelf Number: 119260 Keywords: Cannabis (Africa)DrugsMethamphetamine |
Author: Bliss, Meredith L. Title: Changes in Indicators of Methamphetamine Use and Property Crime Rates in Oregon Summary: This study examined the effects of methamphetamine use upon property crime rates in Oregon. The study found that rates for both reported total and index crimes reached peaks in Oregon in 1995, and gradually decreased after that. Reported property crime rates displayed a transient decrease in 1996 followed by an increase in 1997, however. Several indicators of the use of methamphetamine in Oregon displayed a similar transient decrease in 1996, suggesting that chnages in the illicit methamphetamine market were expressed in changes in property crime rates. Details: Salem, OR: Oregon Criminal Justice Commission, 2004. 14p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2004 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 119363 Keywords: Drug Abuse and CrimeMethamphetamineProperty Crime (Oregon) |
Author: Sabin, Mike Title: Solutions to the Methamphetamine Crisis in New Zealand: A Study of Supply and Demand-Side Interventions and their Efficacy Summary: Methamphetamine, now second only to cannabis for illicit drug use rates in New Zealand, is commonly smoked, injected, snorted and ingested orally, causing a rapid progression to addiction. Chronic use of the drug often leads to anti-social, violent behaviour and serious mental illness. The purity of methamphetamine is linked to the degree of associated harm, increases of criminal offending and adverse socio-economic consequences. Recent surveys of social and criminal trends links methamphetamine with increasing prison populations, court cases and social costs, with $551 million worth of loss within New Zealand thought to be caused by the drug in 2006; more than any other drug. In analysing ‘what works and what doesn’t’ on the global stage, in particular within the United States, it is clear that New Zealand’s national drug policy of the last 10 years which focuses on harm minimisation, has been, and will continue to fail. Alongside this, with the limited efficacy of the supply-side interventions enacted in New Zealand in the early 2000s, the precursor and chemical diversion schemes are in need of overhauling. It is clear that there is no-one-silver bullet, but it is apparent that in the absence of successful demand reduction Police and Customs will be largely ineffective at tackling the subsequent supply. It is apparent that in the absence of so many of the interventions being employed successfully elsewhere, New Zealand has limited opportunities or likelihood of resolving the methamphetamine crisis. Conversely this study has identified a range of strategies with proven efficacy which if actioned effectively have the potential to bring about rapid change in this country. These strategies include overhauling the national drug policy and abandoning the focus on harm minimisation in favour of an approach based on harm elimination, which encourages citizens, in particular youth, to reject drug use. The establishment of a national drug control policy office which accounts directly to the Prime Minister and ensures administration and accountability of all drug policy objectives and outcomes across all ministries. A refocus of policing priorities toward organised criminal entities and improved powers and legislation to address precursor supply and disrupt criminal markets. The implementation of drug treatment courts and widespread, accessible treatment, alongside effective education and screening intervention. And the introduction of coordinated and concerted youth education and screening programmes, which utilise random student drug testing, and a focus on encouraging youth attitudes and behaviours which reject drug use. Details: Mongonui, New Zealand: MethCon Group Limited, 2008. 87p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2008 Country: New Zealand URL: Shelf Number: 119468 Keywords: Drug Abuse and CrimeDrug ControlDrug PolicyDrug ReformMethamphetamineOrganized Crime |
Author: Whitworth, Steven Scott Title: The Untold Story of Mexico's Rise and Eventual Monopoly of the Methamphetamine Trade Summary: This thesis examines the dominant role of Mexican drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) in the multi-billion dollar trade in illegal narcotics between Latin America and the United States since 1995. It assesses the implications of the existence and operation of the four major and thriving, Mexico cartels (or DTOs) for both the United States and Mexico. The story of Mexico’s rise to prominence by the mid- to late-1990s as the primary transshipment route for cocaine entering the United States is well known. However, much less attention has been devoted to how the Mexican cartels, which now control 80 % percent of all illegal drug trafficking into the United States, have become the primary producer and trafficker of methamphetamine for the American market in the past decade. Details: Monterey, CA: Naval Postgraduate School, 2008. 89p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 28, 2010 at: http://edocs.nps.edu/npspubs/scholarly/theses/2008/Jun/08Jun_Whitworth.pdf Year: 2008 Country: Mexico URL: http://edocs.nps.edu/npspubs/scholarly/theses/2008/Jun/08Jun_Whitworth.pdf Shelf Number: 119693 Keywords: CocaineColumbian CartelsDrug PolicyDrug TraffickingIllegal DrugsMethamphetamine |
Author: Lowe, Nathan C. Title: Reentry of Methamphetamine-Using Offenders into the Community: Identifying Key Strategies and Best Practices for Community Corrections Summary: This report discusses issues related to reentry of methamphetamine (MA) users. From 1997 to 2004, MA use increased among both state and federal prison inmates in the month before the convicting offense was committed and at the time of the convicting offense. This increase in MA use among offenders has created significant challenges for the corrections field. Specifically, correctional and treatment professionals have worked together in efforts to implement the most effective strategies to treat MA use and abuse among offenders in the community. The purpose of this report is to highlight the need for a coherent strategy for community corrections professionals to use when supervising MA-using populations in the community. This report offers the community corrections field baseline data to understand some of the obstacles and lessons learned regarding supervision of MA-using offenders. The data were gathered from a focus group and three technical assistance site visits with the underlying intention of identifying key strategies in dealing with MA-using offenders in the community. Policy and practice recommendations are also offered. These recommendations rely on the focus group, site visits, and emerging body of research literature on effective community supervision and successful substance abuse strategies. Details: Alexandria, VA: American Probation and Parole Association, 2010. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 28, 2011 at: http://www.appa-net.org/eweb/docs/appa/pubs/RMUOC.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.appa-net.org/eweb/docs/appa/pubs/RMUOC.pdf Shelf Number: 122114 Keywords: Community CorrectionsDrug Abuse and AddictionDrug OffendersMethamphetamineReentry |
Author: Carey, Shannon M. Title: Guam Adult Drug Court Outcome Evaluation Final Report Summary: In the past 15 years, one of the most dramatic developments in the movement to reduce substance abuse among the U.S. criminal justice population has been the spread of drug courts across the country. In a typical drug court program, participants are closely supervised by a judge who is supported by a team of agency representatives that operate outside of their traditional adversarial roles including addiction treatment providers, prosecuting attorneys, public defenders, law enforcement officers, and parole and probation officers who work together to provide needed services to drug court participants. “The emergence of these new courts reflects the growing recognition on the part of judges, prosecutors, and defense counsel that the traditional criminal justice method of incarceration, probation, or supervised parole have not stemmed the tide of drug use among criminals and drug-related crimes in America” (Hora, Schma, & Rosenthal, 1999). Guam’s drug court movement began in the mid-1990s with the emergence of the “ice” (crystal methamphetamine) epidemic. Nationwide, there was an unprecedented increase in drug-related offenses, particularly with crack cocaine, that significantly impacted the criminal justice system. Following national statistics, Guam’s increase of drug offenders, particularly “ice” offenders, rose to staggering numbers, thus impacting an already over-burdened justice system that was unprepared for this occurrence. An examination of statistics from the Guam Uniform Crime Report shows relatively high numbers of substance abuse arrests for adults, despite extremely limited law enforcement activities targeting drug crimes. In 1998, there were 418 drug-related arrests and 70% involved methamphetamine. Because of these statistics, Guam was awarded a Program-Planning Grant in 1998 and a Drug Court Implementation Grant in 2002. In August 2003, Guam held its first Adult Drug Court session. The implementation grant also provided funds for evaluation and NPC Research was hired to perform a process and outcome study of the Guam Adult Drug Court (GADC). This report contains the GADC outcome evaluation performed by NPC Research. GADC participant outcomes were compared to outcomes for a matched group of offenders who were eligible for drug court during a 2-year time period just prior to the GADC implementation. The first section of the main report is a brief summary and update of the GADC process with some new recommendation from NPC. The rest of the report contains a detailed description of the methodology used for the outcome evaluation and its results. Details: Portland, OR: NPC Research, 2007. 39p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed on January 20, 2012 at http://www.npcresearch.com/Files/Guam_Adult_Drug_Court_Outcome_Evaluation_Final%20_Report_0307.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: http://www.npcresearch.com/Files/Guam_Adult_Drug_Court_Outcome_Evaluation_Final%20_Report_0307.pdf Shelf Number: 123700 Keywords: Drug Courts (Guam)Drug OffendersMethamphetamineProblem-Solving CourtsRecidivismRepeat OffendersSubstance Abuse |
Author: Howard, Lisbeth Title: Methamphetamine Use by Adult and Juvenile Arrestees in 2010 Summary: Interviews with adult and juvenile arrestees regarding drug use and other risky behaviors have been conducted by the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) in San Diego since 1987. This CJ Bulletin is part of a series of four presenting Substance Abuse Monitoring (SAM) data collected in calendar year 2010. Information collected from the SAM project provides useful, objective indicators regarding meth use trends over time, as well as other information regarding treatment access, distribution, and other risky behaviors of concern. As part of this effort, all arrestees who are randomly selected to participate in the SAM project and report methamphetamine (meth) use in the past 30 days are asked to complete a meth addendum. In 2010, 172 adults and 10 juveniles completed the addendum, which includes questions that pertain to how the arrestees obtain and use meth, their involvement in distribution, the effect it has on their lives, and their participation in treatment services. In 2010, this data collection effort was generously supported by the California Border Alliance Group (CBAG), County of San Diego Alcohol and Drug Services, the District Attorney’s Office, and the Public Safety Group. Their support, as well as the cooperation of the San Diego County Sheriff’s and Probation Departments, is gratefully acknowledged. Details: San Diego, CA: Criminal Justice Division, SANDAG, 2011. 11p. Source: CJ Bulletin: Internet Resource: Accessed February 5, 2012 at http://www.sandag.org/uploads/publicationid/publicationid_1619_13747.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.sandag.org/uploads/publicationid/publicationid_1619_13747.pdf Shelf Number: 123985 Keywords: Adult OffendersDrug UseJuvenile OffendersMethamphetamineSubstance Abuse |
Author: Congdon-Hohman, Joshua Title: The Lasting Effects of Crime: The Relationship of Discovered Methamphetamine Laboratories and Home Values Summary: This study estimates a household’s willingness to pay to avoid the stigma of crime while minimizing concerns of omitted variable bias. By assuming methamphetamine producers locate approximately at random within a narrowly defined neighborhood, this study is able to use hedonic estimation methods to estimate the impact of the discovery of a methamphetamine laboratory on the home values near that location. Specifically, the analysis designates those closest to the site as the treated, while those slightly farther away act as the comparison group. The discovery of a methamphetamine laboratory has a significant effect on the property values of those homes close to the location that peaks from six to 12 months after each lab’s discovery. The estimates found in this study range from a decrease in sale prices of ten to nineteen percent in the year following a laboratory’s discovery compared to the prices for homes that are farther away but still in the same neighborhood. Surprisingly, the impact does not appear to depend on intensity as both the discovery of a second lab and being very close to the discovered lab do not adversely impact home values. Details: Worcester, MA: Department of Economics, College of the Holy Cross, 2011. 34p. Source: Faculty Research Series, Paper No. 11-14: Internet Resource: Accessed March 14, 2012 at http://college.holycross.edu/RePEc/hcx/Congdon_MethLabs.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://college.holycross.edu/RePEc/hcx/Congdon_MethLabs.pdf Shelf Number: 124544 Keywords: EconomicsHousingMethamphetamine |
Author: Gilbreath, Aaron Hastings Title: From Made in America to Hecho en Sinaloa: A Historical Geography of North American Methamphetamine Networks Summary: Most of the major drugs of abuse in the Untied States have a relatively uniform distribution. Their use may cluster in cities, for example, but that general pattern tends to repeat itself in every region of the county. This is not true of the stimulant methamphetamine, which today shows a decidedly uneven distribution. Confounding the matter more is the fact that, because it is a synthetic drug, it is theoretically possible to make methamphetamine anywhere. But it is not made everywhere. In fact, for much of its history, the drug has been concentrated in the American West. Further complicating our understanding is the public's general amnesia regarding methamphetamine's long history in the United States. Without that knowledge, it is impossible to explain the drug' present geography. This dissertation traces the evolution of the various networks that have coalesced around the production and distribution of methamphetamine and finds that much of the drug's current geography can be traced to the manner in which these various groups responded to official attempts to stem the supply of the precursors necessary to produce it. Details: Lawrence, KS: University of Kansas, 2012. 247p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed July 13, 2013 at: https://kuscholarworks.ku.edu/dspace/handle/1808/10250 Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: https://kuscholarworks.ku.edu/dspace/handle/1808/10250 Shelf Number: 129380 Keywords: Criminal NetworksDrug Abuse and Addition (U.S.)Geographic AnalysisMethamphetamineOrganized Crime |
Author: Australian Crime Commission Title: The Australian methylamphetamine market: the national picture Summary: This report aims to provide a concise understanding of the nature of organised crime involvement in the Australian methylamphetamine market. The ACC monitors all illicit drug markets through its High Risk and Emerging Drugs Special Operation. Through this work, the ACC has assessed that methylamphetamine poses the greatest threat to the Australian public of all illicit drug types. The ACC's annual Illicit Drug Data Report provides a detailed and comprehensive statistical picture of the illicit drug threat to Australia and provides an in-depth statistical analysis of the illicit drug market. The Australian Methylamphetamine Market: The National Picture is a complementary intelligence report. This report provides a brief summation of the national picture of the methylamphetamine threat. It explores the international and national dimensions of the methylamphetamine market, outlines the role of organised crime in driving the Australian market, the nature of the market, and the harms associated with methylamphetamine use. It also examines the diversion of precursor chemicals required to produce methylamphetamine in clandestine laboratories. It does this by consolidating open source information with operational and strategic intelligence collected by the ACC and Commonwealth, state and territory law enforcement agencies. The release of this report is designed to: inform the widest possible audience, including those who are not privy to classified law enforcement intelligence; generate discussion and dialogue about what can be done to tackle the methylamphetamine problem; enable individuals, friends and families to understand the nature of the harms; caused by methylamphetamine and influence those around them to minimise harm inform the national response to the methylamphetamine market. Details: Canberra: Australian Crime Commission, 2015. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 26, 2015 at: http://apo.org.au/files/Resource/acc_theaustralianmethylamphetaminemarket_mar_2015.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://apo.org.au/files/Resource/acc_theaustralianmethylamphetaminemarket_mar_2015.pdf Shelf Number: 135060 Keywords: Drug Abuse and AddictionDrug Markets (Australia)Drug TraffickingMethamphetamineOrganized Crime |
Author: Victoria (AUS). Department of Premier and Cabinet Title: Ice action plan Summary: Ice use is a complex problem that demands a long-term solution, but the Ice Action Plan deals with the things that cannot wait. Its about supporting families, treating users and making our community safer. Under the Plan, the Government will invest $4.7 million to help families identify and manage ice users and $1 million to support frontline workers who are at risk of getting attacked at work. The Government will invest $18 million to expand drug treatment and rehabilitation, so users can get the help they need, and set up a dedicated Ice Help Line that directs families and health professionals to the support they need. New measures to reduce the growing supply of ice on our streets include a $4.5 million plan to crack down on clandestine drug labs and tough laws to stop dealers and manufacturers. Community safety is our priority. The Government will invest $15 million for new drug and booze buses and provide $500,000 to help community groups tackle ice use in their local area. A stable job means a stable life, and the Andrews Labor Government is improving the prospects of young, at-risk people with the $1 billion Back to Work Plan and the $320 million TAFE Rescue Fund. The Ice Action Plan builds on the Victorian Parliaments landmark 2014 Inquiry into the supply and use of ice, which identified a significant increase in the number of people in their 20s using ice. The work of the Premiers Ice Action Taskforce will continue, with a long-term role to support the implementation of the Plan and advise the Government where more effort is needed. Details: Melbourne: Victorian Government, 2015. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 26, 2015 at: http://apo.org.au/files/Resource/ice-action-plan-final-summary-document-web-version.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://apo.org.au/files/Resource/ice-action-plan-final-summary-document-web-version.pdf Shelf Number: 135061 Keywords: Drug Abuse and AddictionDrug TreatmentMethamphetamineSubstance Abuse Treatment |
Author: Bynum, Timothy Title: Methamphetamine in Michigan: Issues and Interventions Summary: Methamphetamine abuse and manufacture has become an increasingly serious problem across the United States in recent years. Known more commonly as "meth," the drug is a type of synthetic stimulant that affects the body's central nervous system, and is highly addictive. The consequences of methamphetamine abuse are particularly serious in that not only is the drug very addictive but chronic use can result in significant and potentially irreversible damage to the brain. Methamphetamine works by stimulating excess release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is instrumental in regulating feelings of pleasure in the body. Users may smoke, inhale, inject or swallow meth, depending on the form of the drug at the time of use. The effects of meth may last up to 8 hours. Users often develop a tolerance to the effects and then increase the frequency and/or dosage of the drug that is needed in order to get high. According to an ONDCP report meth users tend to be white males, with an average age of 29. Users typically come from a low or low to middle socioeconomic group and many are unemployed. Methamphetamine was originally developed for treatment of respiratory problems in the 1930s. The American Medical Association approved the use of amphetamines to treat a variety of ailments including ADD, Parkinson's, depression and narcolepsy. (Hunt, et. al, 2006) The effects on sleep and fatigue were recognized by the military and the armed forces in Japan and the United States utilized amphetamines and meth to combat fatigue. Available by prescription, more extensive civilian use commenced in the 1960s and was used by women for weight loss along with college students and truck drivers needing to stay awake for work or studying. In 1970, amphetamine and methamphetamine were classified as a Schedule II drug thus making them illegal to possess without a prescription. Until recently many of the precursors necessary to make meth were legal. In 2003 ephedrine was banned under the Ephedra Prohibition Act and in 2004 Oklahoma passed legislation restricting ephedrine/pseudoephedrine products and forced buyers to identify themselves at pharmacies where the product was now only kept behind the counter. Other states have adopted similar legislation. (Hunt et. al, 2006) Despite these new laws, meth can be manufactured rather easily in clandestine or makeshift laboratories using inexpensive and readily available ingredients, allowing large quantities to be made at more affordable prices compared to other types of stimulant narcotics. The volatility of these labs creates extremely unsafe and often toxic and explosive situations. The highly addictive nature of the drug combined with the hazards associated with the makeshift labs has garnered increased attention from law enforcement agencies and treatment providers at both national and local levels. Details: East Lansing, MI: Michigan Justice Statistics Center, School of Criminal Justice, Michigan State University, 2007. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 21, 2005 at: http://cj.msu.edu/assets/Methamphetamine-in-Michigan-Issues-and-Interventions.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: http://cj.msu.edu/assets/Methamphetamine-in-Michigan-Issues-and-Interventions.pdf Shelf Number: 135744 Keywords: Drug Abuse and AddictionDrug Control PolicyMethamphetamine |
Author: Coghlan, Sarah Title: Findings from the DUMA program: Methamphetamine drug market trends Summary: Methamphetamine is a drug of national concern, with the Australian Crime Commission (ACC; 2015a) assessing it to be the illicit drug posing the greatest risk to the Australian community. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare's (AIHW) 2013 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS) reported that approximately 400,000 Australians had used meth/amphetamines in the previous 12 months (AIHW 2014). The NDSHS reported a stable rate of meth/amphetamine use in the general community from 2010 to 2013 of 2.1 percent. However, there was a shift in the type of meth/amphetamine used, from powder to purer forms like ice or crystal methamphetamine (AIHW 2014). Specifically, powder meth/ amphetamine use among recent users decreased from 51 percent to 29 percent, while ice use more than doubled from 22 percent to 50 percent (AIHW 2014). In line with this, the frequency of methamphetamine use among injecting drug users in Melbourne remained consistent from 2008 to 2014, but users reported transitioning from powder to crystal forms of methamphetamine (Scott et al. 2015). Frequency of use of methamphetamine has also changed across the 2010 to 2013 period. In 2013, 15.5 percent of recent meth/amphetamine users reported daily or weekly use, compared with 9.3 percent in the 2010 survey (AIHW 2014). When examining use by form, approximately a quarter of users who mainly used ice reported using it at least weekly, compared with 2.2 percent of powder users who reported weekly use (AIHW 2014). Scott et al.'s (2015) study of injecting drug users in Melbourne found that those already using methamphetamine were starting to purchase the drug more frequently in 2013 compared with 2011. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2015. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: Research in Practice: Accessed September 21, 2015 at: http://aic.gov.au/media_library/publications/rip/rip43/rip43.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://aic.gov.au/media_library/publications/rip/rip43/rip43.pdf Shelf Number: 136834 Keywords: Drug Abuse and AddictionDrug Abuse and CrimeDrug MarketsMethamphetamine |
Author: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Title: Trends in methylamphetamine availability, use and treatment, 2003-04 to 2013-14 Summary: There have been several corresponding trends in the availability, use and treatment of methylamphetamines since 2003-04. Following a decline between 2006-07 and 2009-10, there have been increases across many factors relating to methylamphetamines to 2013-14. Arrests, seizures and detections have all increased. Users are now favouring the crystal form of methylamphetamine. They are using it more frequently, and, there appear to be more new users of crystal. There are more people in treatment reporting smoking as their usual method of use for amphetamines than previously. Details: Canberra: AIHW, 2015. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Drug treatment series no. 26: Accessed October 8, 2015 at: http://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=60129552826 Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=60129552826 Shelf Number: 136970 Keywords: Drug Abuse and AddictionDrug Abuse and CrimeDrug Offender TreatmentDrug TreatmentMethamphetamine |
Author: Coyne, John Title: Methamphetamine: Focusing Australia's National Ice Strategy on the problem, not the symptoms Summary: In this report, law enforcement isn't focused on arrests, prosecutions, custodial offences or seizures, as none of those will have a guaranteed impact on the problem. The focus is on means to reduce the availability of drugs, the disruption of user behaviour and the integration of education and health initiatives. The report argues that the National Ice Strategy should consider three key points: 1.Integration. Drug strategies have a better chance of being successful when each of its initiatives are integrated into a strategically focussed harm reduction strategy. 2.Innovation. Education, health and enforcement stakeholder should be free from the limitations of wholly quantitative performance measures 3. Disruption. Initiatives to tackle the ice problem should be focussed towards the disruption of problems rather than the treatment of symptoms of the problem. Details: Barton, ACT, Australia: Australian Strategic Policy Institute, 2015. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 15, 2015 at: https://www.aspi.org.au/publications/methamphetamine-focusing-australias-national-ice-strategy-on-the-problem,-not-the-symptoms/SR82_ice.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: https://www.aspi.org.au/publications/methamphetamine-focusing-australias-national-ice-strategy-on-the-problem,-not-the-symptoms/SR82_ice.pdf Shelf Number: 136983 Keywords: Drug ControlDrug EnforcementDrug PolicyMethamphetamine |
Author: Research and Survey Consulting Title: Evaluation of Montana's Residential Methamphetamine Treatment Programs: Elkhorn Treatment Center for Women; Nexus Treatment Center for Men Summary: This report describes, analyzes and presents information from Department of Corrections contracted programs for the treatment of methamphetamine and other drug offenders: the Elkhorn program for women in Boulder, operated by Boyd Andrew Community Services (BACS), and the Nexus program for men in Lewistown, operated by Community Counseling and Correctional Services (CCCS). The report thoroughly describes the population and identifies specific risk factors associated with program and prerelease center completion/non-completion. Recommendations for improving outcome are suggested. The primary evaluation research goal was to establish efficient data collection and reporting methods that could be implemented over an extended period of time, enabling the ongoing reporting of data useful for verifying and improving program effectiveness. This 2013 report incorporates data from the previous 2008 and 2010 reports. In 2011 the DOC shifted responsibility for hiring a program evaluation researcher solely onto the programs who continued to retain Research & Survey Consulting to maintain continuity. Between April of 2007 and July of 2012 data was collected on 867 offenders: 303 admitted to Elkhorn and 564 admitted to Nexus. It is clear that these programs are treating very different populations with regards to gender, family history, criminal history, mental illness etc. Reporting is combined here not for critical comparison but to make report reading more efficient. Over a 5 year period 79.5% of everyone admitted to Nexus and 86.1% of everyone admitted to Elkhorn completed their 9 month stay as sentenced. In the most recent year for which complete data is available, 2011 (most 2012 admissions are still in the 9 month programs or prerelease), both programs saw a lower percentage of completions with Nexus showing the most substantial (but not statistically significant) drop. This reflects the increasingly diverse and complex population of offenders which included substantially more opioid users (for women, opiate users have more than doubled from 15% early in the program to 38% currently), a consistently high rate of risk from psychiatric illness and medications, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and young age as well as convoluted criminal and treatment histories. For Nexus, all offenders who did not complete their Nexus facility stay were initially sent to the Sanction, Treatment, Assessment, Revocation and Transition center (START), Montana State Prison, another DOC facility/program, or a county jail. For Elkhorn, offenders who did not complete their Elkhorn stay all were initially returned to Montana Women‟s Prison, a Passages program, or a county jail. Of those offenders who completed the treatment center portion of the program (Nexus or Elkhorn) and went to a PRC, the completion rate at the PRC was 72.7% for men and 72.1% for women. The completion rate for those who finished both the treatment program and the PRC was 59.39% for Nexus and 60.01% for Elkhorn; there is no statistically significant difference between programs. Details: Missoula, MT: Research & Survey Consulting, 2013. 17p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 6, 2015 at: https://cor.mt.gov/Portals/104/Resources/Reports/MethTreatmentEval2013.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: https://cor.mt.gov/Portals/104/Resources/Reports/MethTreatmentEval2013.pdf Shelf Number: 137207 Keywords: Drug Abuse TreatmentDrug OffendersMethamphetamine |
Author: Australia. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Title: Final Report of the National Ice Taskforce Summary: The Final Report of the National Ice Taskforce found that ice use in Australia is a complex problem that requires a multi-faceted response. Proportionally, Australia uses more methamphetamine than almost any other country, and the number of users continues to grow. Today, evidence suggests there are well over 200,000 users. In its Report, the Taskforce has made 38 recommendations across five areas of priority. 1. The first priority must be supporting families, workers and communities to better respond to people affected by ice. 2. Efforts to reduce demand for ice through prevention activities must be strengthened. 3. Ice users need treatment and support services that cater to their needs. 4. Efforts to disrupt supply must be more coordinated and targeted. 5. Better data, more research and regular reporting is needed to strengthen Australia's response and keep it on track. The National Ice Taskforce The National Ice Taskforce was established on 8 April 2015 to advise the Government on the impacts of ice in Australia and drive the development of a National Ice Action Strategy. The Taskforce presented its interim findings to the Council of Australian Governments on 23 July 2015, and delivered its Final Report to the Prime Minister of Australia on 9 October 2015. The Taskforce engaged extensively with people around Australia to develop this report. The Taskforce spoke to over 100 experts on research, education, prevention, treatment, law enforcement and support for users, families and Indigenous people. The Taskforce also visited nine treatment and support services, and received around 100 submissions from organisations, clinics, research bodies and academics. The Taskforce also received more than 1,200 submissions from the public. Around a quarter shared personal stories of how ice has affected them, their families and their communities. The Taskforce also held seven targeted community consultations in Mt Gambier, Broome, Darwin, Newcastle, Hobart, Townsville and Mildura. Details: Sydney: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, 2015. 252p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 22, 2016 at: http://www.dpmc.gov.au/pmc/publication/final-report-national-ice-taskforce Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://www.dpmc.gov.au/pmc/publication/final-report-national-ice-taskforce Shelf Number: 137655 Keywords: Drug Abuse and AddictionDrug Abuse PreventionDrug OffendersMethamphetamine |
Author: Coghlan, Sarah Title: Findings from the DUMA program: Impact of reduced methamphetamine supply on consumption of illicit drugs and alcohol Summary: Changes in illicit drug availability have been shown to impact users' alcohol and other drug consumption. In late 2000 and early 2001, Australia experienced a sudden and dramatic reduction in the supply of heroin which has continued to the present date. This shortage has been attributed to, at least in part, supply-side reduction strategies undertaken by law enforcement (Weatherburn et al. 2003). However, the benefits associated with this shortage were to some degree offset by the unintended consequence of displacement in illicit drug use, reflected in an increase in the use of other drugs, such as cocaine (Weatherburn et al. 2003). Research into the impact of the heroin shortage on illicit drug users has resulted in an awareness of the need to understand potential unintended outcomes of supply-side drug law enforcement strategies. Recent media articles and government inquiries have highlighted methamphetamine as a drug of particular concern in Australia, with both the purity and availability of methamphetamine currently being very high (ACC 2014; LRDCPC 2014; Scott et al. 2014). It is not clear whether law enforcement efforts could produce a substantial methamphetamine shortage, such as that seen for heroin, as the methamphetamine supply is supported by both domestic production and importation (ACC 2014; LRDCPC 2014). However, as seizure rates continue to climb, there is some evidence that government policy and policing efforts are having an impact on supply. In 2012-13, the number and weight of border detections of amphetamine type stimulants (ATS) increased and were reported by the Australian Crime Commission to be the highest on record, with the 21,056 reported seizures accounting for 24.2 percent of national illicit drug seizures, second only to cannabis (ACC 2014). Further, the number of clandestine laboratories detected in Australia was the second highest on record, having more than doubled over the last 10 years, with the majority of clandestine laboratories detected domestically producing ATS (ACC 2014). Few studies have examined the likely impact of such seizures on methamphetamine users' drug usage habits. However, a recent examination of the impact of supply-side reduction strategies on drug use and harm in New South Wales conducted by Wan et al. (2014) reported that seizures and supplier arrests for ATS were either positively associated, or were not significantly associated, with drug use and harm measures. For example, an increase in the number of large-scale ATS seizures was positively associated with an increase in the number of arrests for use or possession of ATS (Wan et al. 2014). However, no significant associations were found between the number of ATS seizures or supplier arrests and emergency department admissions (Wan et al. 2014). Although subject to number of limitations including that the study measured the associations across a relatively short temporal period (ie drug use/possession arrests were examined monthly for 4 months after seizures occurred) and that some of the drug use and harm measures may not have been sensitive enough to detect changes in consumption, the findings suggested that increases in seizures and supplier arrests for ATS may be indicative of an increased supply in the short term (Wan et al. 2014). A study by Chalmers, Bradford and Jones (2010) examined responses to hypothetical changes in the price of methamphetamine among a sample of New South Wales residents between 18 and 58 years of age (n=101) who reported using methamphetamine in the past month. As the price of methamphetamine was manipulated, users reported that they would purchase less methamphetamine at higher price levels. It was estimated that a price increase of 10 percent would result in an 18 to 19 percent decrease in the quantity of methamphetamine purchased (Chalmers, Bradford & Jones 2010). However, a number of respondents anticipated switching to using pharmaceutical opioids, cocaine and to a lesser extent, heroin, if the price of methamphetamine were to rise (Chalmers, Bradford & Jones 2010). Despite this evidence of anticipated displacement, the authors concluded that there would be an overall reduction in drug consumption, as the level of substitution for other drugs was more than offset by the decrease in the quantity of methamphetamine purchased (Chalmers, Bradford & Jones 2010). However, this study suffered from a number of limitations. First, the findings represent methamphetamine users' intentions as reported to researchers, which may or may not correspond to actual behaviour during periods of reduced methamphetamine supply. It is important to examine the actual behaviour users demonstrate in response to changes in drug markets, rather than how they believe they would behave in a hypothetical situation. Second, the assumption that supply reduction through law enforcement leads to an increase in the price of an illicit drug may not be valid or may only occur when an extreme shortage is experienced. A study conducted in the United States reported that if a drug market is well-established, the expansion of drug law enforcement may yield little return in the way of increased prices (Caulkins & Reuter 2010). Consistent with this, a 2014 review of empirical studies into the impact of increased law enforcement efforts on drug prices concluded that there was insufficient evidence to link the escalation of law enforcement activity with the raising of drug prices (Pollack & Reuter 2014). Since 1999, the Australian Institute of Criminology has monitored drug use and crime trends across Australia through the Drug Use Monitoring in Australia (DUMA) program. Each quarter, detainees held in watchhouses at various sites across Australia are asked to complete an interviewer-assisted self-report questionnaire. Twice a year, detainees are also asked to provide a voluntary urine sample, which is analysed for the presence of illicit drugs. These data allow monitoring of the availability of illicit substances, including methamphetamine, and examinations of crime and drug usage behaviours. Using DUMA data, an analysis is presented of retrospective self-reports from methamphetamine users (police detainees) on the impact that periods of reduced methamphetamine supply had on reported consumption of methamphetamine, alcohol and other illicit drugs. In order to collect more detailed data, in quarter three of 2013, detainees who had indicated methamphetamine use in the previous 12 months were presented with additional questions to assess whether they had previously experienced a period when methamphetamine was hard to get and if they had, how this had affected the quantity of methamphetamine, alcohol and other illicit drugs used at that time. The findings should be considered in the context of Australian drug markets where methamphetamine is currently readily available, with some localised differences in availability (LRDCPC 2014). Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2015. 5p. Source: Internet Resource: Research in Practice No. 36: Accessed January 25, 2016 at: http://www.aic.gov.au/media_library/publications/rip/rip36/rip36.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://www.aic.gov.au/media_library/publications/rip/rip36/rip36.pdf Shelf Number: 137649 Keywords: Alcohol AbuseDrug Abuse and AddictionDrug MarketsIllegal DrugsMethamphetamine |
Author: Gannoni, Alexandra Title: Methamphetamine in Brisbane: Perspectives from DUMA police detainees Summary: Methamphetamine is of national concern (ACC 2014), but what does this statement mean to frontline police officers? In real terms it means that frontline police are required, on an increasingly frequent basis, to engage with methamphetamine users. This presents a number of challenges to police. First, methamphetamine intoxication and withdrawal can impede an individual's ability to follow police directions. Second, use is associated with behavioural and psychological disturbances, including aggression, which can increase the risk of harm for the police and members of the community. Third, the user is at increased risk of serious physical harms when in custody due to the effects of intoxication or withdrawal. Risks to the user may be exacerbated by physical exertion during interactions with police or due to use of restraint by police. Being armed with information about what methamphetamine is, the nature and extent of use of methamphetamine among Brisbane police detainees, and details of the Brisbane methamphetamine market can assist police to identify risks to themselves and others. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2015. 6p. Source: Internet Resource: Research in practice no. 45: Accessed March 2, 2016 at: http://aic.gov.au/media_library/publications/rip/rip45/rip45.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://aic.gov.au/media_library/publications/rip/rip45/rip45.pdf Shelf Number: 138008 Keywords: Drug Abuse and AddictionDrug MarketsDrug OffendersMethamphetamine |
Author: Patterson, Eileen Title: Methamphetamine in Sydney: Perspectives from DUMA police detainees Summary: Methamphetamine is of national concern (ACC 2014), but what does this statement mean to frontline police officers? In real terms it means that frontline police are required, on an increasingly frequent basis, to engage with methamphetamine users. This presents a number of challenges to police. First, methamphetamine intoxication and withdrawal can impede an individual's ability to follow police directions. Second, use is associated with behavioural and psychological disturbances, including aggression, which can increase the risk of harm for the police and members of the community. Third, the user is at increased risk of serious physical harms when in custody due to the effects of intoxication or withdrawal. Risks to the user may be exacerbated by physical exertion during interactions with police or due to use of restraint by police. Being armed with information about what methamphetamine is, the nature and extent of use of methamphetamine among Sydney police detainees, and details of the Sydney methamphetamine market can assist police to identify risks to themselves and others. The Australian Institute of Criminology's (AIC) Drug Use Monitoring in Australia (DUMA) program interviews police detainees at selected police stations and watch houses across Australia on a quarterly basis. DUMA data collection sites in Sydney include the Bankstown and Surry Hills police stations. Detainees present at the police station during data collection are asked to complete an interviewer-assisted self-report survey on their use of alcohol and other drugs and their offending habits. Urine samples are also requested twice a year during data collections. Urine samples are subjected to urinalysis at an independent toxicology laboratory to detect the presence of a number of licit and illicit drugs, including methamphetamine. Participation in DUMA is voluntary and confidential. Since the program commenced in 1999, 53,858 detainees have been interviewed and 38,574 urine samples have been collected nationally. The data presented in this report were collected at the Bankstown police station during Quarter 4 (October) of 2014 and Quarter 2 (April) of 2015, and at Surry Hills police station in Quarter 3 (July) of 2015. From 2014 to 2015, 116 police detainees were interviewed at Bankstown police station and 55 detainees at Surry Hills police station. They were, on average, 34 years of age. The majority of detainees interviewed were male (approximately 80%), which is representative of the gender composition of the overall Australian detainee population. It should be noted that the data cannot be directly compared between sites due to differences in sample sizes. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2016. 7p. Source: Internet Resource: Research in Practice, No. 47: Accessed April 11, 2016 at: http://aic.gov.au/media_library/publications/rip/rip47/rip47.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: http://aic.gov.au/media_library/publications/rip/rip47/rip47.pdf Shelf Number: 138631 Keywords: Drug Abuse and AddictionDrug OffendersMethamphetamine |
Author: Nevendorff, Laura Title: Crystal - Meth in Indonesia: Crystal-meth use and hiv-related risk behaviour in Indonesia Summary: HIV risk behaviors among crystal-meth users might contribute to increasing HIV prevalence rates in Indonesia. Related risks can be reduced if people have access to crystal-meth related health services. Prior to the development of interventions, a comprehensive understanding of structural, social, interpersonal and personal factors related to the use of crystal-meth in Indonesia is crucial. This includes a better understanding of individual and environment factors surrounding drug use and HIV-related risk behaviors, which will allow for the designing of better interventions. This study aims to gain better knowledge on patterns of meth use and its implications on HIV risk and health seeking behavior among crystal-meth users in Indonesia, including a better understanding of on individual and environmental factors shaping drug use. A qualitative research design was developed with the aim of producing a deeper understanding of the diverse patterns of meth use and its implications for HIV risk and related health seeking behaviors. The study looked at patterns of initiation of meth use, sustained use and attempts of reducing and stopping the use of the drug, and how the drug use influenced users' behaviors, including daily activities, HIV risk behaviors, exposure to legal problems, as well as users' social and sexual networks and health seeking behaviors. It was found that patterns of meth use are dynamic and that its use is influenced by factors a personal, inter-personal and social level, occurring within a specific setting and situated within the informants' life experience. Initiation of meth use is strongly influenced by the social network during the informants' youth. Through the network information and or knowledge on the drug, its effects, and availability are provided. Moreover, various forms of assistance may also be provided by the network (e.g. borrowing of money, pawning things, pooling money, or providing drugs). Temporary cessation or relapse may also be influenced by a user's social network. The study has identified three overlapping patterns of meth use: Frequent users, who use meth on a daily basis and tend to do so independently of their social network; practical users, who use meth on a regular basis, but not as frequent as the frequent users; and casual users, who use meth on a situational basis. Users may move from one using pattern to another, depending on specific events and their life situation. Addiction is an important theme explored in this study. Most of the informants reported that the use of meth does not necessarily lead to addiction. As long as they perceived they could manage their use and were able to perform their daily routine, they did not consider themselves to be addicted. Informants tended to associate drug addiction with heroin use. This dominant perception seems to be rooted in the belief that rehabilitation or drug treatment is needed or indicated for heroin use only, and not for meth use, as meth use, according to most informants, can be controlled by the user. However, some informants stated that they were in need of psychological services to deal with depression, anxiety and stress, or required legal aid as a consequence the consequences of their meth use. Details: Jakarta: AIDS Research Center at Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, 2015. 33p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 19, 2016 at: http://mainline-eng.blogbird.nl/uploads/mainline-eng/Mainlines_sober_facts_on_chrystal_meth_use_in_Indonesia.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Indonesia URL: http://mainline-eng.blogbird.nl/uploads/mainline-eng/Mainlines_sober_facts_on_chrystal_meth_use_in_Indonesia.pdf Shelf Number: 139667 Keywords: Drug Abuse and AddictionHIVMethamphetamine |
Author: Goldsmid, Susan Title: Methamphetamine use and acquisitive crime: Evidence of a relationship Summary: Methamphetamine use among Australian police detainees is rising; the impact of this rise on crime trends, and particularly on trends in acquisitive crime, is yet to be established. Identifying trends in and motivations for offending among methamphetamine users may assist law enforcement and policymakers to better target resources. This paper examines the engagement in acquisitive crime, and perceived motivations for methamphetaminedriven crime, of a sample of Australian police detainees recruited in 2013 through the Drug Use Monitoring in Australia program. Methamphetamine users reported deriving a significantly higher proportion of their income from crime than non-users. Logistic regression analysis reveals the use of methamphetamine, heroin and/or cannabis predicts engagement in acquisitive crime when other drug use and polydrug use is controlled for. In addition, methamphetamine users reported their use played a contributing role in their offending, most commonly through intoxication or the need for money to purchase drugs. The findings indicate recent methamphetamine use increases the risk of engagement in acquisitive offences. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2016. 14p. Source: Internet Resource: Trends & issues in crime and criminal justice no. 516: Accessed November 2, 2016 at: http://aic.gov.au/media_library/publications/tandi_pdf/tandi516.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: http://aic.gov.au/media_library/publications/tandi_pdf/tandi516.pdf Shelf Number: 145776 Keywords: Acquisitive CrimeDrug Abuse and AddictionDrug OffendersDrugs and CrimeMethamphetamineProperty Crimes |
Author: Curtin University. National Drug Research Institute Title: The Social Costs of Methamphetamine in Australia 2013/14 Summary: Australia has one of the highest documented rates of methamphetamine use in the world, with about 2.1% of the population aged 14 years and over reporting they have used methamphetamine in the past year. Recent changes in the purity and form of methamphetamine have resulted in a significant rise in public concern and media interest in the harms associated with the consumption of methamphetamine. As documented in this report, methamphetamine consumption is associated with a diverse range of harms and costs to individual drug users, their families and wider society. The objective of this project was to estimate the cost of methamphetamine use to Australia for a specific year (2013/14) rather than the future costs arising from use in that year, due to limitations in the available data and the level of uncertainly concerning future outcomes. Thus, other than years of life lost due to premature mortality, the costs do not include costs for treating chronic health conditions or lower levels of productivity over the lifespan. The harms and costs of drug use are substantially increased for dependent drug users compared with other users(Moore, 2007). We based our analyses on an estimated 160,000 dependent methamphetamine users and 108,000 regular nondependent users (Degenhardt et al., 2016a). There are also estimated to be 240,995 people in Australia who use methamphetamine occasionally (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2014a). Finally, we excluded the private costs incurred by non-dependent methamphetamine users. However, the private costs or the "internalities" of dependent drug use were quantified but not added to the overall total. The report identified a range of prevention, supply reduction, harm reduction and treatment initiatives targeting the use of methamphetamine. In 2013/14 school based programs were the major prevention approach, with no substantial general population programs being identified in that year. Supply reduction programs were evident at the local level, through jurisdiction level policing or initiatives such as ProjectStop, which aims to limit access to precursor chemicals through the purchase of some over-the-counter medicines. Nationally, there were initiatives to regulate the commercial supply of chemicals and products that could be used in clandestine laboratories. The major harm reduction initiatives were existing programs that aim to reduce harms from injecting drug use (e.g. needle and syringe programs) that also involve some users of methamphetamine. However, treatment programs, such as withdrawal management, counselling services and residential rehabilitation, were the largest cost items in this area. Chapter 4 provides costing for these items. Details: Perth, Western Australia: The Research Institute, 2016. 200p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 27, 2017 at: https://ndri.curtin.edu.au/local/docs/pdf/publications/T246.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: https://ndri.curtin.edu.au/local/docs/pdf/publications/T246.pdf Shelf Number: 147843 Keywords: Costs of Drug AbuseDrug Abuse and AddictionDrug Abuse TreatmentMethamphetamineSubstance Abuse |
Author: Harris, Katharine Neill Title: The Drug Overdose Epidemic: Not Just about Opioids Summary: The rise in opioid-related overdose deaths in the last two decades is widely regarded as an epidemic that originated with the overprescribing of prescription pain relievers in the late 1990s. But a research study published in the September issue of Science suggests that the opioid overdose crisis is actually part of a larger trend that started 40 years ago. In the study, researchers mapped drug overdose deaths in the U.S. from 1979 through 2016. The authors analyzed data from the National Vital Statistics System on 599,255 deaths in which the main cause of death was listed as accidental drug poisoning. The authors found that drug overdose fatalities have been increasing dramatically since 1979, stating that "this exponentially increasing mortality rate has tracked along a remarkably smooth trajectory for at least 38 years," suggesting that "the current wave of opioid overdose deaths may just be the latest manifestation of a more fundamental longer term process." Within this broad trend of steady growth, there is significant variation in terms of the specific drugs involved and the populations most affected by drug overdose deaths. Currently, the population most at risk for cocaine overdose is aging black males living in urban counties, while methamphetamine-related deaths skew toward white and rural male populations. For opioid-related deaths, age is a defining feature of variation in risk patterns. Deaths involving heroin and synthetic opioids are higher for people between the ages of 20 and 40, especially white males living in urban counties. In contrast, prescription opioid deaths are higher among those 40 to 60 years old, especially white females living in rural counties. Nearly every region of the country, except for the northern Midwest, has been a "hot spot" for drug overdose deaths in the last few years. Despite some limitations, this analysis provides strong evidence for the existence of a protracted drug epidemic that requires both immediate and long-term interventions. The finding that the relatively recent increase in opioid-specific overdoses may be a particularly intense manifestation of a more persistent problem implies that a major feature of the government response to opioid-involved overdoses - restricting the supply of prescription painkillers - does little to stem the overall uptick in drug-related fatalities. The fact that the increase in overdose deaths has remained constant despite varying trends for specific drugs also suggests that factors often thought to drive the overdose epidemic, such as a rise in drug use or an overabundant drug supply, are not sufficient explanations. Details: Houston, TX: Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy, 2018. 5p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 17, 2018 at: https://www.bakerinstitute.org/media/files/files/dc464f15/bi-brief-110118-drug-overdoseepidemic.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://www.bakerinstitute.org/media/files/files/dc464f15/bi-brief-110118-drug-overdoseepidemic.pdf Shelf Number: 153877 Keywords: Cocaine Drug OverdoseDrug UseMethamphetamineOpioid EpidemicOpioidsPrescription Drug AbuseRural CrimeSubstance Abuse |
Author: Stone, Katie Title: The Global State of Harm Reduction 2018 Summary: In 2008, Harm Reduction International (HRI) released the first Global State of Harm Reduction, a report that mapped responses to drug-related HIV, viral hepatitis and tuberculosis (TB) around the world for the first time. The data gathered for the report provided a critical baseline against which progress could be measured in terms of the international, regional and national recognition of harm reduction in policy and practice. Since 2008, the biennial report has become a key publication for researchers, policymakers, civil society organisations, UN agencies and advocates, mapping harm reduction policy adoption and programme implementation globally. Over the last decade, reports of injecting drug use and the harm reduction response have increased; harm reduction programmes are currently operating at some level in almost half of the 179 countries in the world where injecting drug use has been documented. With patterns of drug use globally continuing to evolve, Harm Reduction International reached out in 2017 to civil society networks across the world to ask what they wanted to see in this report. The 2018 Global State of Harm Reduction report has a broader scope, containing information on: - The number of people who inject drugs and the number of people imprisoned for drug use (where data is available). - Needle and syringe programmes (NSP), opioid substitution therapy (OST), HIV and hepatitis C and TB testing and treatment for people who use drugs, in both the community and in prisons. - The harm reduction response for people who use amphetamine-type stimulants, cocaine and its derivatives, and new psychoactive substances. - Drug-checking in nightlife settings. - Harm reduction for women who use drugs. - Drug consumption rooms. - Drug-related mortality and morbidity and the overdose response, as well as naloxone peer distribution in the community and naloxone provision in prisons. - Developments and regressions in funding for harm reduction. This report and other Global State of Harm Reduction resources can be found at www.hri.global. Details: London: Harm Reduction International, 2018. 176p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 18, 2018 at: https://www.hri.global/files/2018/12/11/global-state-harm-reduction-2018.pdf Year: 2018 Country: International URL: https://www.hri.global/files/2018/12/11/global-state-harm-reduction-2018.pdf Shelf Number: 154070 Keywords: CocaineDrug Abuse and AddictionDrug Consumption FacilitiesDrug UseHarm ReductionHIVMethamphetamineNaloxoneSubstance Abuse |
Author: International Crisis Group Title: Fire and Ice: Conflict and Drugs in Myanmar's Shan State Summary: Myanmar's Shan State has emerged as one of the largest global centres for the production of crystal methamphetamine ("ice"). Large quantities of the drug, with a street value of tens of billions of dollars, are seized each year in Myanmar, neighbouring countries and across the Asia-Pacific. Production takes place in safe havens in Shan State held by militias and other paramilitary units allied with the Myanmar military, as well as in enclaves controlled by non-state armed groups. The trade in ice, along with amphetamine tablets and heroin, has become so large and profitable that it dwarfs the formal economy of Shan State, lies at the heart of its political economy, fuels criminality and corruption and hinders efforts to end the state's long-running ethnic conflicts. Myanmar's government should stop prosecuting users and small-scale sellers and work with its neighbours to disrupt the major networks and groups profiting from the trade. The military should better constrain pro-government militias and paramilitaries involved in the drugs trade, with an eye to their eventual demobilisation. The growing drugs trade in Shan State is in part a legacy of the area's ethnic conflicts. For decades, the Myanmar military has struck ceasefire deals with armed groups and established pro-government militias. Such groups act semi-autonomously and enjoy considerable leeway to pursue criminal activities. Indeed, conditions in parts of Shan State are ideal for large-scale drug production, which requires a kind of predictable insecurity: production facilities can be hidden from law enforcement and other prying eyes but insulated from disruptive violence. Tackling the drug trade presents a complex policy challenge involving security, law enforcement, political and public health aspects. But if the drugs trade is partly a symptom of Shan State's conflicts, it is also an obstacle to sustainably ending them. The trade, which now dwarfs legitimate business activities, creates a political economy inimical to peace and security. It generates revenue for armed groups of all stripes. Militias and other armed actors that control areas of production and trafficking routes have a disincentive to demobilise, given that weapons, territorial control and the absence of state institutions are essential to those revenues. The trade attracts transnational criminal groups and requires bribing officials for protection, support or to turn a blind eye, which allows a culture of payoffs and graft to flourish and adds to the grievances of ethnic minority communities that underpin the seventy-year old civil war. Myanmar's military, which has ultimate authority over militias and paramilitaries and profits from their activities, can only justify the existence of such groups in the context of the broader ethnic conflict in the state - so the military also has less incentive to end that conflict. Tackling the drug trade presents a complex policy challenge involving security, law enforcement, political and public health aspects. An integrated approach that addresses all of these areas will be needed to effectively address it: - Myanmar's government should redouble its drug control efforts, ending prosecutions of small-time dealers and users and refocusing on organised crime and corruption associated with the trade. The president should instruct and empower the Anti-Corruption Commission to prioritise this. - At the community level, the government should focus more on education and harm reduction, in line with its February 2018 National Drug Control Policy. It should work with relevant donors and international agencies to invest in education and harm reduction initiatives geared specifically toward the particular dangers of crystal meth use. Although crystal meth is currently not widely used in Myanmar, that is likely to change given the huge scale of production. - Myanmar's military should rethink the conflict management approaches it has employed for decades. In particular, it should exert greater control over - and ultimately disarm and disband - allied militias and paramilitary forces that are among the key players in the drug business. The impunity that these groups enjoy, and the requirement that they mostly fund themselves, has pushed them to engage in lucrative illicit activities. - The military should also investigate and take concerted action to end drug-related corruption within its ranks, focusing on senior officers who facilitate or turn a blind eye to the trade. - Myanmar's neighbours should stop illicit flows of precursors, the chemicals used to manufacture drugs, into Shan State. As the main source of such chemicals, China has a particular responsibility to end this trade taking place illegally across its south-western border. It should also use its influence over the Wa and Mongla armed groups controlling enclaves on the Chinese border to end their involvement in the drug trade and other criminal activities. Targeting the major players in the drug trade will not be easy and comes with risks of pushback, perhaps violent, from those involved. But the alternative - allowing parts of Shan State to continue to be a safe haven for this large-scale criminal enterprise - will see closer links between local armed actors, corrupt officials in Myanmar and the region, and transnational criminal organisations. The more such a system becomes entrenched, and the greater the profits it generates, the harder it will be to dislodge and the longer conflicts in that area are likely to persist. The people of Shan State, and Myanmar as a whole, will pay the highest price. Details: Brussels, Belgium: International Crisis Group, 2019. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 9, 2019 at: https://www.crisisgroup.org/asia/south-east-asia/myanmar/299-fire-and-ice-conflict-and-drugs-myanmars-shan-state Year: 2019 Country: Asia URL: https://d2071andvip0wj.cloudfront.net/299-fire-and-ice.pdf Shelf Number: 154750 Keywords: CorruptionCrystal MethDrug DealingDrug TradeDrug TraffickingIceMethamphetamineMyanmarShan State |