Impacts-of-methamphetamine-in-Victoria-Community-Assessment-Penington-Institute

“… it’s more addictive and [users are] more dependent quicker”( Barwon South West).A key concern for some workers was that with changes in purity in their area, young people wereunsure how to reduce harms associated with use, or understand how changes to purity would affectthem.“A certain standard came through, then the price went up and the purity went up. Then it hasdropped again, the quality is quite bad, so people are using more and more. But trying to get clientsto understand that process - a higher grade comes in, they’ve been on a lower grade.”7.3. Populations at riskWhile some people interviewed could see increases in particular demographic groups presenting, suchas young people, in many areas different forms of disadvantage or vulnerability placed people atheightened risk of problematic methamphetamine use. However, it was also evident that the‘normalisation’ of methamphetamine means that diverse groups were at risk, with some workersstating that use was problematic among a wide range of people including active sportspeople (eg:football players), office workers using amphetamine for weight loss/maintenance and tradeapprentices. To gain a sense of why crystal methamphetamine may be gaining popularity, note thefollowing overview:“It gives you a heap of confidence and you find that it's much easier to have a conversation tosomeone new. It pretty much blocks out reality for a while if you're going through a rough time, forgirls it's a good way to lose weight quick and easy and just pretty much makes you feel on top of theworld and invincible as if you can accomplish absolutely anything you put your mind to” [33].Recent initiatesAcross the state, services are noting a trend for younger people to start experimentation using crystalmethamphetamine and bypassing experimentation with alcohol or cannabis.“The new kids on the block usually pick up with the ice.”“We’re seeing a lot of young people who start off on meth ... it’s immediate and at high levels.”Services were also seeing increases in recent initiates over 25 years, who, while potentially havingbeen occasional users in the past, are now presenting at services for treatment, including counselling.“We’re starting to see a group of people who have a lot of protective factors... employment, familyand friends.”Another worker in the Grampians region noted,“I’m seeing people who had [protective factors]... but lost the employment, relationships...”Young people37