National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW.
Med J Aust. 2016 Mar 7;204(4):153. doi: 10.5694/mja15.00671.
To estimate the number of regular and dependent methamphetamine users in Australia.
Indirect prevalence estimates were made for each year from 2002-03 to 2013-14. We applied multiplier methods to data on treatment episodes for amphetamines (eg, counselling, rehabilitation, detoxification) and amphetamine-related hospitalisations to estimate the numbers of regular (at least monthly) and dependent methamphetamine users for each year. Dependent users comprised a subgroup of those who used the drug regularly, so that estimates of the sizes of these two populations were not additive.
We estimated that during 2013-14 there were 268 000 regular methamphetamine users (95% CI, 187 000-385 000) and 160 000 dependent users (95% CI, 110 000-232 000) aged 15-54 years in Australia. This equated to population rates of 2.09% (95% CI, 1.45-3.00%) for regular and 1.24% (95% CI, 0.85-1.81%) for dependent use. The rate of dependent use had increased since 2009-10 (when the rate was estimated to be 0.74%), and was higher than the previous peak (1.22% in 2006-07). The highest rates were consistently among those aged 25-34 years, in whom the rate of dependent use during 2012-2013 was estimated to be 1.50% (95% CI, 1.05-2.22%). There had also been an increase in the rate of dependent use among those aged 15-24 years (in 2012-13 reaching 1.14%; 95% CI, 0.80-1.69%).
There have been increases over the past 12 years in the numbers of regular and dependent methamphetamine users in Australia. Our estimates suggest that the most recent numbers are the highest for this period, and that the increase has been most marked among young adults (those aged 15-34 years).
There is an increasing need for health services to engage with people who have developed problems related to their methamphetamine use.
估计澳大利亚常规和依赖甲基苯丙胺使用者的数量。
对 2002-03 年至 2013-14 年的每一年进行间接流行率估计。我们应用倍增方法对安非他命（如咨询、康复、戒毒）治疗发作和与安非他命相关的住院治疗数据进行分析，以估计每年常规（至少每月）和依赖甲基苯丙胺使用者的数量。依赖使用者是经常使用药物的人的一个亚组，因此这两个群体的规模估计不是加性的。
我们估计，在 2013-14 年，澳大利亚有 268000 名常规甲基苯丙胺使用者（95%CI，187000-385000）和 160000 名依赖使用者（95%CI，110000-232000），年龄在 15-54 岁之间。这相当于澳大利亚常规使用的人群率为 2.09%（95%CI，1.45-3.00%）和依赖使用的人群率为 1.24%（95%CI，0.85-1.81%）。自 2009-10 年以来，依赖使用的比率一直在上升（当时的比率估计为 0.74%），并且高于之前的高峰（2006-07 年为 1.22%）。在 25-34 岁的人群中，依赖使用的比率一直最高，2012-2013 年期间，依赖使用的比率估计为 1.50%（95%CI，1.05-2.22%）。在 15-24 岁的人群中，依赖使用的比率也有所上升（2012-13 年达到 1.14%；95%CI，0.80-1.69%）。
在过去 12 年中，澳大利亚常规和依赖甲基苯丙胺使用者的数量有所增加。我们的估计表明，最近的数字是这段时间内最高的，而且在年轻人（15-34 岁）中增加最为明显。
需要增加卫生服务，以接触到那些因使用甲基苯丙胺而出现问题的人。
