communications <strong>in</strong>terventions. Local and regional network<strong>in</strong>g and collaboration has an important roleto play <strong>in</strong> responses.The Waste Water Analysis used <strong>in</strong> report suggests that on a population basis, there may be less<strong>methamphetam<strong>in</strong>e</strong> consumed <strong>in</strong> rural and regional centres than <strong>in</strong> Melbourne overall. There isevidence <strong>in</strong> this report that there is more weekend <strong>methamphetam<strong>in</strong>e</strong> use than dur<strong>in</strong>g the week,support<strong>in</strong>g a view that there is a higher proportion <strong>of</strong> ‘occassional’ or regular recreational users thanis the case with opioids. The ur<strong>in</strong>e analysis conducted <strong>in</strong> this assessment is reveal<strong>in</strong>g. It would<strong>in</strong>dicate that how a community experiences the crystal <strong>methamphetam<strong>in</strong>e</strong> issue – one that <strong>in</strong>volves avariety <strong>of</strong> harmful impacts – can vary.Therefore, with the behavioural consequences <strong>of</strong> crystal <strong>methamphetam<strong>in</strong>e</strong> use, it does not require alarge <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> a highly visible drug problem for its impact to be felt <strong>in</strong> regional or rural areas wherenetworks are tight.Because <strong>of</strong> the complexity <strong>of</strong> the issue, and its direct effects upon <strong>in</strong>dividual users and hence servicesystems, crystal <strong>methamphetam<strong>in</strong>e</strong> appears to be a particularly dra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g substance when comparedwith hero<strong>in</strong> or other opiates, for example. So, <strong>in</strong> this sense, the issue may not only be whether or notthere is more or less <strong>methamphetam<strong>in</strong>e</strong> use <strong>in</strong> regional or rural areas compared with Melbourne, butrather, its actual and perceived impacts upon communities.8
2. BackgroundAnex, now the Pen<strong>in</strong>gton <strong>Institute</strong>, began receiv<strong>in</strong>g numerous reports from frontl<strong>in</strong>e health workers,particularly from regional and rural areas, about an apparent <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> <strong>methamphetam<strong>in</strong>e</strong> use, fromSeptember 2012 onwards.S<strong>in</strong>ce then, workforce and media reports <strong>in</strong>dicate that the use <strong>of</strong> <strong>methamphetam<strong>in</strong>e</strong> — particularlycrystal <strong>methamphetam<strong>in</strong>e</strong> or ‘ice’ — has <strong>in</strong>creased <strong>in</strong> numerous <strong>Victoria</strong>n communities.In response to reported <strong>in</strong>creased <strong>methamphetam<strong>in</strong>e</strong> use across the state, the <strong>Victoria</strong>n Governmenthas been implement<strong>in</strong>g a variety <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>itiatives and has substantially <strong>in</strong>creased <strong>in</strong>vestment to supportcommunities.In 2013, the M<strong>in</strong>ister for Mental Health, <strong>Community</strong> Services, Disability Services and Reform, the Hon.Mary Wooldridge MP, funded Anex (now Pen<strong>in</strong>gton <strong>Institute</strong>) to conduct a community situationalassessment <strong>of</strong> <strong>methamphetam<strong>in</strong>e</strong> use, particularly crystal <strong>methamphetam<strong>in</strong>e</strong>, commonly known as“ice” <strong>in</strong> selected metropolitan, regional and rural areas.A high-level reference group advised the project. This <strong>in</strong>cluded representatives from Department <strong>of</strong>Health, Department <strong>of</strong> Justice, <strong>Victoria</strong> Police, Ambulance <strong>Victoria</strong>, Magistrates’ Court <strong>of</strong> <strong>Victoria</strong>, theCommission for Children and Young People, the Australasian College <strong>of</strong> Emergency Medic<strong>in</strong>eVACCHO, VAADA and Turn<strong>in</strong>g Po<strong>in</strong>t.The assessment was based on Rapid Situational <strong>Assessment</strong> methodology [1, 2]. Its aim was toobta<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>formation about <strong>methamphetam<strong>in</strong>e</strong> use and the extent <strong>of</strong> its impact on <strong>in</strong>dividuals, families,services and <strong>Victoria</strong>n communities.This assessment addressed two ma<strong>in</strong> questions:1. What is the level and nature <strong>of</strong> <strong>methamphetam<strong>in</strong>e</strong> availability and use <strong>in</strong> <strong>Victoria</strong>?2. What are the associated impacts for users and their families, services, communities?The project’s objectives were to: Undertake a literature/desktop review Exam<strong>in</strong>e and review exist<strong>in</strong>g data sources relat<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>methamphetam<strong>in</strong>e</strong> useUndertake a Waste Water Analysis <strong>in</strong> four <strong>Victoria</strong>n communities (<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g measurementpo<strong>in</strong>ts for Melbourne) to measure and report on levels <strong>of</strong> crystal <strong>methamphetam<strong>in</strong>e</strong> useCollect and Assess <strong>of</strong> data collected by community services regard<strong>in</strong>g the drug use <strong>of</strong> theirclient group/sUndertake key <strong>in</strong>formant <strong>in</strong>terviews with representatives from a variety <strong>of</strong> services acrossregional and metropolitan Melbourne.Undertake <strong>in</strong>terviews with people who use <strong>methamphetam<strong>in</strong>e</strong>s.This report provides a snapshot <strong>of</strong> current <strong>methamphetam<strong>in</strong>e</strong> use and relevant communityresponses. It documents relevant agencies’ and community members understand<strong>in</strong>g andexperiences <strong>of</strong> the reported <strong>in</strong>creases <strong>in</strong> <strong>methamphetam<strong>in</strong>e</strong> availability and use, and drug relatedharms associated with this.9
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