Methamphetamine use in Australia
Under Australia's law, methamphetamine is a Schedule 8 drug, available for medical use but restricted in manufacture, supply, and possession.
These include chalk, crypto, gear, getgo, tweak, and cristy, although the two most common ones in Australia today are ice and shard.
During 1991, Hong Kong, Japan and Australia pooled their resources together to seize 80 kilograms of the methamphetamine drug which was believed to be manufactured in China.
[8] Today, the drug is in high demand all across Australia, and with this the authorities have been seizing large quantities on a regular basis.
[12] The property was located on a suburban street of Adelaide and could produce hundreds of millions of dollars worth of illicit drugs.
[13] In 2019, the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) and St Vincent Health Australia called on the NSW Government to publicly release the findings of the Special Commission of Inquiry into the Drug ‘Ice’, saying there was "no excuse" for the delay.
[14] The report was the culmination of months of evidence from health and judicial experts, as well as families and communities affected by amphetamine-type substances across NSW.
The report made 109 recommendations aimed to strengthen the NSW Governments response regarding amphetamine-based drugs such as crystal meth or ice.
The reports commissioner said the state's approach to drug use was profoundly flawed and said reform would require "political leadership and courage", "Criminalising use and possession encourages us to stigmatise people who use drugs as the authors of their own misfortunate," Mr Howard said current laws "allow us tacit permission to turn a blind eye to the factors driving most problematic drug use" including childhood abuse, domestic violence and mental illness.
[18] They supported 86 of the inquiry's 109 recommendations but stopped short of decriminalisation with Perrottet saying "Drugs have no place in our society".
[18] Australian governments have placed a strong emphasis on law enforcement in response to the methamphetamine problem.
*** Intent to sell and supply comes under trafficking laws in some states in Australia depending upon the amount of prohibited substance.
[36] In 2020, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare published a report titled Alcohol, tobacco & other drugs in Australia, the report found Australia has the fourth highest average total stimulant consumption when compared with 29 countries across Europe, North America, Oceania, and South Africa.
