Meth usage fears for older South Aussies putting their lives in grave danger

SA has lost its crown as the nation’s meth capital, but experts are warning of an alarming increase in older adults using it to cling to their youth.

Older South Australians “desperately trying to hang onto their youth” are using methamphetamine as a weekend party drug in a terrifying trend that is putting their lives in grave danger, warns an Adelaide expert.

Adelaide University’s Associate Professor Rob Ali said the latest statistics showed that the “age spread” of people using addictive drugs such as meth and cocaine was increasing, with people in their 40s and 50s indulging in the risky habit.

“Older people (in their 40s and beyond) are desperately trying to hang on to their youth and doing things that younger people might do and using stimulants like methamphetamine and cocaine is one of them,” said Dr Ali, senior research fellow at the university’s department of pharmacology.

“A lot of methamphetamine use starts out as being able to party all weekend.”

Dr Robert Ali said older SA people are using meth which can lead to serious consequences. Picture: Supplied

Dr Ali said meth was highly addictive and could quickly move to habitual use. He said even casual use among older people puts them in heightened danger from the risks already associated with meth use, such as strokes and heart disease.

“Of course they (the older users) are much more vulnerable to the risks associated with use,” he said.

“These drugs not only stimulate the brain but they also stimulate the heart so the risk of heart attack and stroke are quite real.”

The latest statistics from the National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA) show South Australia has lost its unofficial mantle of the meth capital of Australia, with rates of drug use dropping to be in line with the rest of the nation.

Methamphetamine use in South Australia has reduced.

Professor Jacqueline Bowden, NCETA director based at Flinders University, said 1 per cent of the state’s population – or 15,000 South Australians – had used methamphetamine in the past 12 months, down from 2 per cent in 2013.

“I wouldn’t say we’re the meth capital anymore, we’re on par with the national rate,” she said.

“But we do know it is highly addictive and if an individual does become dependent on methamphetamine, it can cause some significant downhill spirals for that individual ... so it can cause harm for that individual and the family around them as well.

“It’s highly addictive, my advice is don’t mess with it.”

Professor Jacqueline Bowden said one per cent of the state’s population had used meth in the past 12 months. Picture: Supplied

About 7.5 per cent – or nearly one in 13 – had used the drug at some point in their lives, the latest drug data showed.

But despite its drop in use, it was still the second-most common drug for people who received treatment for their drug addiction, behind alcohol.

“It doesn’t just affect certain individuals, it can happen to anyone,” Professor Bowden said.

“While it’s not the most prevalent, because cannabis use is higher, the cost to the individual and the harm to the individual are greater for methamphetamine and because of that, that’s why we’re seeing so many people trying to get treatment for it because it does cause a downhill spiral for the people and those around them.”

Adelaide University’s Dr Ali said meth rates had reduced but those who were still using were doing it “more intensively and more riskily”.

He said drug use affected people from all demographics but some professions had an “occupational risk”, including shift workers, long-haul truck drivers and those in the entertainment industry as well as members of the LGBTQI community.

“That occupational use where you are wanting to improve on productivity and wakefulness,” he said.

“You suddenly get an energy boost – initially, methamphetamine does improve vigilance, performance and wakefulness but it’s like a bank, you’re drawing down and eventually you run out of dopamine ... you’re running on empty At the same time, meth is killing off dopamine cells and the drugs are not effective so you need to use more.”