Gaps in the ice: Methamphetamine in Australia; its history, treatment, and ramifications for users and their families

It is now well‐established that Australia has a significant issue with methamphetamine. Recent dramatic changes in manufacturing have led to significant shifts in both the patterns of use and the relative purity of this illicit drug, with the crystalline form of methamphetamine commonly referred to...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of mental health nursing 2018-12, Vol.27 (6), p.1861-1868
Main Authors: Gordon, Douglas Greg, Jong, Gideon
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
addiction
Addictions
Amphetamine-Related Disorders - epidemiology
Amphetamine-Related Disorders - psychology
Amphetamine-Related Disorders - therapy
Australia
Australia - epidemiology
Biomedical Research
Comorbidity
Counseling
Efficacy
Family - psychology
family involvement
Humans
ice
Methamphetamine
Narratives
Nursing
Outpatient treatment
Psychiatric-mental health nursing
Purity
Recovery
Residential treatment
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:It is now well‐established that Australia has a significant issue with methamphetamine. Recent dramatic changes in manufacturing have led to significant shifts in both the patterns of use and the relative purity of this illicit drug, with the crystalline form of methamphetamine commonly referred to as ‘ice’. Excessive use not only impacts on those taking the drug, but also takes a heavy toll on their families. With few effective treatment options currently available, there is a strong focus on developing replacement pharmacotherapies and examining the efficacy of outpatient counselling and residential treatment options. Recent research in addiction care supports the positive impact that families of users can have on both treatment and recovery for their loved ones. Despite this recognition, there is little current research looking at the experiences of families of users of the uniquely problematic drug methamphetamine. This paper outlines the historical narrative that has led to the current worldwide phenomenon of ice use and explores contemporary directions of research into its impact and potential treatments. In doing so, it outlines the relatively unexplored impact of ice on families and highlights a current need for nursing research into their experiences living with loved ones using the drug.
ISSN:1445-8330
1447-0349
DOI:10.1111/inm.12480