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Estimating the number of regular and dependent methamphetamine users in Australia, 2002-2014.

Dietze PM, Quinn B, Hughes C

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  • Journal The Medical journal of Australia

  • Published 26 Oct 2017

  • Volume 205

  • ISSUE 9

  • Pagination 425-426

  • DOI 10.5694/mja16.00795

Abstract

Estimating the prevalence of illicit drug use is difficult, but reliable estimates are required to understand community needs and inform associated policy and practice. Degenhardt and colleagues published recent estimates of the prevalence of regular (greater than or equal to monthly use in the past 6 months) and dependent (greater than three on the Severity of Dependence Scale) methamphetamine use in Australia, where the headline figures were an estimated 268 000 and 160 000 regular and dependent methamphetamine users respectively in the 2013–14 financial year.