National Amphetamine-Type Stimulant Strategy Background Paper

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media guidelines should be developed similar to those for media reporting of suicide and
mental illness (Penrose-Wall, Baume & Martin, 1999). Further, the Internet and peers also
represent potential sources of misinformation. Thus, any campaigns related to ATS use,
whether targeting current consumers, community members or preventing the uptake use,
need to ensure the credibility of information sources and adopt strategies to regulate the
quality and accuracy of the information provided.
In all community consultations strong concerns were expressed about the media’s
portrayal of ATS use and some commented that this had resulted in a kind of ‘hysteria’
that was ill-informed. In particular, there was concern about the over-emphasis on crystal
methamphetamine use, and with the use of terms such as ‘party drugs’. In addition, it was
felt that significant emphasis had been placed on psychosis and little on the more prevalent
mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. Such stories contributed to
inaccurate understanding of ATS use and the associated harms and that they could have
the unintended consequences of: glamorising or creating interest in ATS: confounding
effective prevention and law enforcement strategies; contributing to misdiagnosis (for
example, a number of people commented that any agitation was being inappropriately
diagnosed as psychosis); and further marginalising consumers, having an impact of the
probability of seeking and/or receiving treatment. It was suggested that guidelines or a code
of conduct be developed in partnership with the media about reporting about drug use, in
particular ATS use. This approach was emphasised in the submission from the Australian
Psychological Society (APS), which stated that there was a need to:
develop more sophisticated and informed responses and advocacy to the media on the
issue of ATS and advocate for the development of a Media code of conduct around the
reporting of ATS and other drug incidents.
Similarly, Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre noted that:
...the recent media focus on the extreme effects of crystal methamphetamine has not
been helpful in encouraging users into treatment. These media reports may result in
users who are less severe believing that they do not require intervention unless they
are experiencing extreme problems, and also becoming more reluctant to seek
treatment for fear of being classified as a ‘hard drug user’.
4.3 Reducing associated problems
While many campaigns are directed toward reducing the appeal of drugs and preventing,
or delaying, the onset of use, others aim to reduce specific drug-related problems and
risky behaviours among current users. Thus, the prevention of drug-related problems
needs to be able to identify and reduce significant patterns and contexts of risky drug use.
Adapting a classification system developed by the World Health Organisation (WHO),
Loxley and colleagues (2004) outlined four main categories of drug use patterns that
need to be addressed in terms of related risks and potential harms. These are: mode of
administration (e.g., swallowing, inhaling, smoking, injecting); intoxication; regularity of use;
and, dependence. Each of these categories may have effects in several domains, such
as: developmental effects (e.g., use during pregnancy); physical health effects (e.g., blood
borne virus transmission, nutritional deficiencies); personal safety issues (e.g., injury to self