Published Wednesday, 11 July, 2007 at 01:14 PM
Minister for Health
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
Studies put spotlight on amphetamine use in Queensland
The Beattie Government is embarking on two major studies to examine use of amphetamines, including Ice, in Queensland, Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today.
Mr Robertson told Parliament the studies will be done by Queensland Health in collaboration with the Crime and Misconduct Commission and the Queensland Alcohol and Drug Research and Education Centre.
He also revealed more than $100,000 worth of banned ice pipes, bongs and bong components were seized this week during Queensland Health raids on two retail outlets in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast.
“Enforcement of new State Government laws banning the sale of Ice pipes and bong components commenced last Thursday,” he said.
“So far, 450 ice pipes, 450 bongs and thousands of bong components have been seized from a retail outlet at Surfers Paradise.
“In Brisbane, 200 ice pipes, 150 bongs and thousands of bong components were seized from a retail outlet in the Queen Street Mall.”
Mr Robertson said both retailers face prosecution and a maximum court fine of $10,500.
“Amphetamines are the second most-used illicit drug after marijuana in Queensland.
“We won’t tolerate anyone thumbing their nose at the law by continuing to supply ice pipes, bongs and bong components to the community,” he said.
Mr Robertson said drug use impacts on individuals, families and communities in a multitude of ways, including negative impacts on health and productivity as well as drug-related crime.
“Queensland Health is already working with pharmacists and the police to crackdown on the use of products containing pseudoephedrine in the illegal manufacture of amphetamines.
“The two new studies we’re doing will greatly assist us to intervene and address some of the harmful and costly consequences of amphetamine use on individuals, their families and the community.”
Mr Robertson said the first study updates a 2003 survey and will involve about 700 amphetamine users at 18 sites throughout Queensland.
“The study will gather information about patterns of amphetamine use in Queensland, including the nature of amphetamine dependence and the rate of injecting and transitions to injecting.
“It will also examine demographic and social characteristics of diverse user populations; the health of users; and behavioural aspects of amphetamine use, including the relationship between drug use and engagement in criminal activities.”
The second study will be a more intensive natural history study involving selected young amphetamine users in South Eastern Queensland.
“A specific group of amphetamine users will be tracked over time to explore their drug use, health, access to health services, and any involvement in crime,” Mr Robertson said.
The aims of this second study are to:
• Describe the natural history of amphetamine and other illicit drug use in a community sample of amphetamine users;
• Explore patterns of amphetamine and other illicit drug use;
• Understand temporal changes to patterns of amphetamine use;
• Examine factors that influence patterns and changes in amphetamine use (social determinants of use);
• Explore patterns of access to and use of health services;
• Examine if and/or how clinically based and law enforcement based interventions modify patterns of use;
• Analyse amphetamine market dynamics and involvement of users;
• Investigate the drug-health-crime nexus.
“Both these studies will develop timely data to inform government about effective and properly targeted responses to address rising amphetamine use in Queensland,” Mr Robertson said.
“I would expect our findings will be relevant to a wide range of jurisdictions, most of which are in a similar situation as Queensland in terms of finding effective responses to amphetamine use,” he said.
11 July, 2007
MEDIA: PAUL LYNCH 3234 1190
Mr Robertson told Parliament the studies will be done by Queensland Health in collaboration with the Crime and Misconduct Commission and the Queensland Alcohol and Drug Research and Education Centre.
He also revealed more than $100,000 worth of banned ice pipes, bongs and bong components were seized this week during Queensland Health raids on two retail outlets in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast.
“Enforcement of new State Government laws banning the sale of Ice pipes and bong components commenced last Thursday,” he said.
“So far, 450 ice pipes, 450 bongs and thousands of bong components have been seized from a retail outlet at Surfers Paradise.
“In Brisbane, 200 ice pipes, 150 bongs and thousands of bong components were seized from a retail outlet in the Queen Street Mall.”
Mr Robertson said both retailers face prosecution and a maximum court fine of $10,500.
“Amphetamines are the second most-used illicit drug after marijuana in Queensland.
“We won’t tolerate anyone thumbing their nose at the law by continuing to supply ice pipes, bongs and bong components to the community,” he said.
Mr Robertson said drug use impacts on individuals, families and communities in a multitude of ways, including negative impacts on health and productivity as well as drug-related crime.
“Queensland Health is already working with pharmacists and the police to crackdown on the use of products containing pseudoephedrine in the illegal manufacture of amphetamines.
“The two new studies we’re doing will greatly assist us to intervene and address some of the harmful and costly consequences of amphetamine use on individuals, their families and the community.”
Mr Robertson said the first study updates a 2003 survey and will involve about 700 amphetamine users at 18 sites throughout Queensland.
“The study will gather information about patterns of amphetamine use in Queensland, including the nature of amphetamine dependence and the rate of injecting and transitions to injecting.
“It will also examine demographic and social characteristics of diverse user populations; the health of users; and behavioural aspects of amphetamine use, including the relationship between drug use and engagement in criminal activities.”
The second study will be a more intensive natural history study involving selected young amphetamine users in South Eastern Queensland.
“A specific group of amphetamine users will be tracked over time to explore their drug use, health, access to health services, and any involvement in crime,” Mr Robertson said.
The aims of this second study are to:
• Describe the natural history of amphetamine and other illicit drug use in a community sample of amphetamine users;
• Explore patterns of amphetamine and other illicit drug use;
• Understand temporal changes to patterns of amphetamine use;
• Examine factors that influence patterns and changes in amphetamine use (social determinants of use);
• Explore patterns of access to and use of health services;
• Examine if and/or how clinically based and law enforcement based interventions modify patterns of use;
• Analyse amphetamine market dynamics and involvement of users;
• Investigate the drug-health-crime nexus.
“Both these studies will develop timely data to inform government about effective and properly targeted responses to address rising amphetamine use in Queensland,” Mr Robertson said.
“I would expect our findings will be relevant to a wide range of jurisdictions, most of which are in a similar situation as Queensland in terms of finding effective responses to amphetamine use,” he said.
11 July, 2007
MEDIA: PAUL LYNCH 3234 1190