“Indigenous communities are hard hit, the prevalence is high”Key <strong>in</strong>formants reported that small Aborig<strong>in</strong>al communities particularly were feel<strong>in</strong>g pr<strong>of</strong>ound effects<strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>creased <strong>methamphetam<strong>in</strong>e</strong> use. The researchers were told by one worker that young people <strong>in</strong>particular were not access<strong>in</strong>g services, as they did not have anonymity with<strong>in</strong> the community, or theymay have a family member work<strong>in</strong>g at the service.A common theme that has emerged is that there is a sense that many Aborig<strong>in</strong>al communities,<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> rural <strong>Victoria</strong>, feel deeply affected by <strong>methamphetam<strong>in</strong>e</strong> and that is touch<strong>in</strong>g negativelyon the lives <strong>of</strong> grandparents’ generations as well as younger people. There is a sense, described bymany, that it is “kill<strong>in</strong>g” the community. The case study <strong>of</strong> a regional service on Page 33 provides<strong>in</strong>dications that strongly suggested <strong>methamphetam<strong>in</strong>e</strong> use is well with<strong>in</strong> populations <strong>of</strong> Aborig<strong>in</strong>aldrug <strong>in</strong>jectors, as well as non-<strong>in</strong>jectors.Football/netball clubs as example <strong>of</strong> a social sett<strong>in</strong>gIn a few towns, there was local knowledge that football players were us<strong>in</strong>g crystal <strong>methamphetam<strong>in</strong>e</strong>socially on the weekends. This knowledge came from work<strong>in</strong>g with young people who experiencedproblematic crystal <strong>methamphetam<strong>in</strong>e</strong> use, and other networks – such as the adult children <strong>of</strong>workers tell<strong>in</strong>g them it was rampant.A Grampians AOD worker stated:“We’re hear<strong>in</strong>g it from say, footy club players … they say it’s everywhere <strong>in</strong> footy <strong>in</strong> the socialcircles... it’s the transition from be<strong>in</strong>g a beh<strong>in</strong>d-closed-doors drugs to be<strong>in</strong>g out <strong>in</strong> the open andsocially acceptable ... that happened over the last six months I th<strong>in</strong>k ... you can buy it openly at thepub”.Another worker reported that they had been told young footballers used <strong>methamphetam<strong>in</strong>e</strong> tocounter weight ga<strong>in</strong>. It was noted however, that use <strong>of</strong> <strong>methamphetam<strong>in</strong>e</strong> eventually negativelyimpacted on their sport<strong>in</strong>g performance.An AOD counsellor said:‘This is def<strong>in</strong>itely not exclusive to males, no way. They probably form the majority <strong>of</strong> users, but nomeans the vast majority. For example, I’ve got a client now, a woman <strong>in</strong> her mid 20s, middle classand works <strong>in</strong> retail, and she was us<strong>in</strong>g for party<strong>in</strong>g. She’s gone too far, and she’s has said ‘Nope, thisis not who I want to be’. So we’re try<strong>in</strong>g to help her. And this girl is a netballer, a good one. So whenwe hear <strong>of</strong> footy clubs, it’s important to remember that they are football and netball clubs ... theprimary use <strong>of</strong> ice is recreational, a social sett<strong>in</strong>g, to party on. And <strong>in</strong> country and regional areas,football/netball clubs are the heart <strong>of</strong> the town. They are the social hub <strong>of</strong> the town.”40
SummaryThe <strong>in</strong>terviews with key <strong>in</strong>formants showed significant diversity <strong>in</strong> the groups considered at risk <strong>of</strong>problematic <strong>methamphetam<strong>in</strong>e</strong> use. Present <strong>in</strong> this were more traditional populations such as youngpeople and people with a history <strong>of</strong> disadvantage. However less obvious populations were also seento be present<strong>in</strong>g, such as football players and tradespeople. This may reflect key <strong>in</strong>formants’perceptions <strong>of</strong> both normalisation <strong>of</strong> <strong>methamphetam<strong>in</strong>e</strong>, as well as its affordability and availability.7.4. Individual HarmsKey <strong>in</strong>formants reported a wide range <strong>of</strong> harms to the <strong>in</strong>dividual as a result <strong>of</strong> <strong>methamphetam<strong>in</strong>e</strong>use. These are reported below.Physical healthIndividuals with problematic <strong>methamphetam<strong>in</strong>e</strong> use were reported to suffer a range <strong>of</strong> harms to theirhealth <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g poor nutrition, weight loss, dental issues and sk<strong>in</strong> issues.“One person who everyone knows really well... he was our ma<strong>in</strong> ice user. He turned <strong>in</strong>to a skeleton...it was like <strong>of</strong>f a zombie movie.”Mental healthA key harm identified by many people <strong>in</strong> the <strong>in</strong>terviews was the <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> mental health issues forpeople us<strong>in</strong>g <strong>methamphetam<strong>in</strong>e</strong>. One worker noted:“Particularly over the last six to eight months maybe, we’ve seen very messy people.”These ranged from agitation, erratic behaviour, to self-harm and psychosis.“Their thought processes don’t connect at all... they can be stand<strong>in</strong>g there talk<strong>in</strong>g to you for 20m<strong>in</strong>utes and you have no idea what they’re say<strong>in</strong>g”“They’re all over the shop. They come <strong>in</strong> and out; they’re speak<strong>in</strong>g half sentences... I refer to it astalk<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> tongues.”One youth worker told the study:“I th<strong>in</strong>k a lot <strong>of</strong> drug use <strong>in</strong> general, and ice [<strong>in</strong> particular], is mask<strong>in</strong>g emerg<strong>in</strong>g mental health issues”Another said:“It’s chicken or egg. Is it self-medication for the mental health? Or is it a drug-<strong>in</strong>duced psychosis?Often our clients are so complex you can’t separate it out.”Hous<strong>in</strong>g41
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