Pubdate: Sat, 13 Nov 2004
Source: Advertiser, The (Australia)
Copyright: 2004 Advertiser Newspapers Ltd
Contact:  http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1
Author: Cara Jenkin, Youth Affairs Reporter
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hallucinogens.htm (Hallucinogens)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

CHEAP, LETHAL AND EASY TO GET

South Australia has the cheapest and most available amphetamines in the 
nation, a new study has found.

Senior police and health officials say amphetamine use has risen to 
alarming levels and is no longer restricted to the dance club scene.

More South Australians than ever before are now using amphetamines in pubs 
and at home.

The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre study, to be released today, 
reveals South Australia was the cheapest for a gram of methamphetamine 
powder (speed) at $50.

In Western Australia a gram of speed costs $300.

The 2004 party Drugs Initiative surveyed 850 ecstasy users as well as 
health professionals, police and social workers.

In SA 97 per cent of respondents said ecstasy tablets were readily 
available at $35 each.

Base amphetamines -- high purity amphetamine paste -- were the easiest to 
obtain, with 65 per cent declaring it was "very easy" -- up 25 per cent on 
the national average. Only 7 per cent of respondents in WA said it was 
"very easy" to obtain base.

National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre information manager Paul Dillon 
yesterday said the cost of ecstasy had almost halved in South Australia in 
the past decade.

"They really are far more accessible," he said.

The study found ecstasy and other party drugs, such as methamphetamine, 
cocaine and LSD, were no longer restricted to the dance club scene of 
nightclubs or raves, with a quarter of South Australians surveyed now using 
them at pubs. More than half were regularly using them at home or private 
parties, the survey said.

Project chief investigator Dr Louisa Degenhardt said the findings 
challenged the belief ecstasy and related drugs were only used in a 
dance-party setting, which carried different risks compared with nightclub 
users.
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