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Heavy stimulant use remains a significant health concern for Australia

Rebecca McKetin and Dan I Lubman
Med J Aust 2011; 195 (10): . || doi: 10.5694/mja11.11197
Published online: 21 November 2011

Stimulants increase the risks of psychosis and stroke

Stimulant use disorders (rather than recreational use) account for most of the harms associated with illicit stimulant use, and are more likely to occur with frequent use and more efficient routes of administration (ie, injection and smoking rather than oral or intranasal use).1 A driving factor behind many of the problems associated with stimulant use in Australia is the long-standing history of methamphetamine injection.2 The majority of dependent methamphetamine users in Australia inject the drug and have been using for a decade or longer.1


  • 1 Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT.
  • 2 Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre, Eastern Health and Monash University, Melbourne, VIC.


Correspondence: dan.lubman@monash.edu

Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

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  • 10. NSW Health. Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Office. Program information: stimulant treatment clinics. http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/mhdao/program_information.asp (accessed Oct 2011).

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