National Amphetamine-Type Stimulant Strategy Background Paper: Monograph Series No. 69
1.10 Summary
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- List of Tables
- List of Figures
Chapter 1: Introduction- 1.1 Background to the National Amphetamine-Type Stimulant Strategy
- 1.2 Defining amphetamine-type stimulants
- 1.3 History of amphetamine-type stimulants
- 1.4 Forms of illicit amphetamine-type stimulants
- 1.5 Australian data collections
- 1.6 Availability
- 1.7 Price
- 1.8 Purity
- 1.9 Routes of administration
- 1.10 Summary
Chapter 2 Setting the Context- Chapter 3: Effects of Amphetamine-Type Stimulants
- Chapter 4: Prevention and Harm Reduction
- Chapter 5: Treatment and Service Provision
- Chapter 6: Law Enforcement
- Appendix 1
- Appendix 2
The MCDS is represented by the Australian and State and Territory Ministers of Health and Law Enforcement and Education. The role of the Council is to determine national policies and programs intended to reduce drug related harm within the Australian community. Recently, the MCDS authorised development of a National ATS Strategy to complement existing strategies, such as the National Cannabis and Alcohol Strategies. These individual strategies are guided by the NDS, which adopts a harm minimisation approach to drug use and related harms in Australia by targeting reductions in supply, demand and harms.
ATS are all chemically related to the parent compound amphetamine and act as central nervous system stimulants. ATS include amphetamine and methamphetamine in forms of powder, base and crystal; MDMA (ecstasy) and related drugs such as MDA and MDEA; and pharmaceutical stimulants such as dextroamphetamine, methylphenidate and phentermine. ATS vary in form and purity, with crystal methamphetamine representing the most potent ATS. There is a relationship between both purity and method of administration with drug effects. There are various existing sources of data that can inform our understanding of patterns of ATS production, distribution, use and related problems. It will be important to ensure these data sources are coordinated to ensure current and accurate information are available to inform preventive and other responses to ATS use and related problems.
