Australia Ranked Second Highest For Meth Use Among 34 Countries

In many places it seems like the drug of choice comes and goes in and out of style like fashion.

Could be availability or what's easiest to sell or smuggle. Addictive types will probably wind up using what's available unless they have a specific need.
 
Two or three times I used dexamyl diet pills (an amphetamine probably like diluted meth), which I got from friends during college. Kept me awake for cramming all night for exams in courses I didn't enjoy. After that first time, just before going into class, I really didn't like still feeling wired-up!
 
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I can’t tell anyone how many people I took to jail while under the influence of Meth.
I think I used Narcan nasal spray 4 times to save a person’s life.

I remember one night while I was patrolling the Pennsylvania Turnpike, I saw a car parked on the side with the lights on and the engine off. This is not legal and the drivers are shown signs that tell sleepy drivers to use one of the many pull-offs available. I walked up to the vehicle and I could tell that the driver was unconscious, but the doors were locked, so I could not open it.

I ran back to my vehicle and grabbed my glass breaker and broke the window to gain entry. I dragged the driver outside and laid him down in back of his vehicle and in front of mine, so I had plenty of light. I didn’t smell alcohol, but I did find his empty film tube and tasted a little of what was left in the tube. It was definitely Meth. I checked for a pulse, which was very weak. I sprayed the Narcan up his nose and waited a few minutes and he didn’t respond, so I gave him a second dose and he finally came out of it. I thought I lost him.

I had already called for a backup and an EMT. Both arrived simultaneously. He was transported to the hospital and given a check-up and once he was cleared, you guessed it, I arrested him. We can’t have drivers on the highway that are operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or any drug, especially narcotics. It was 1:30 a.m. at the time of my stop. It was after 4 when I got him to jail. Not that it matters, but the driver turned out to be a 20 y/o male from Youngstown, OH and the son of an ordained Evangelical Lutheran Pastor.

I spoke with the Pastor at 6 a.m. before I went off duty to let him know what was going on with his son, who was supposed to be in Youngstown the night before and they were worried that he may have been in an accident. The Pastor was very apologetic for his son, which I told him I knew exactly what he was going through because I have been through this several times before. It’s exactly like he said, “I’m sure you have.” The Pastor was also very thankful for saving his son’s life.

BTW, it’s highly suggested that police do not continue to taste material they suspect as being a drug.
 
Paco Dennis said:
Aussies, do you find this to be true in your neck of the woods? I tried it a few times when I was 16. I played guitar and talked like a maniac, and couldn't stop tweaking with my toungue. I also did 20 pull ups when doing 10 usually. The hangover was really bad.

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PD, Australia ranks #2. But I didn't learn from the news vid which other nations are in, say, the high 5 or 10 of users per capital. Do you know?
 
JBR said:
PD, Australia ranks #2. But I didn't learn from the news vid which other nations are in, say, the high 5 or 10 of users per capital. Do you know?
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RankCountryStatus1United StatesLeads globally in per-person meth consumption.

2AustraliaUse has doubled in the last decade, reaching record highs in 2026.

3ChileRanked as the third-highest consumer in global wastewater comparisons.

4BelgiumHigh consumption rates found in urban wastewater samples.

5NetherlandsRounding out the top five global consumers for per-day dosage.
 
Like my Grandmother used to say, "The world is going to h**l in a hand bag!"
She would not be able to handle the world as it is now.

:(
 
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JBR said:
PD, Australia ranks #2. But I didn't learn from the news vid which other nations are in, say, the high 5 or 10 of users per capital. Do you know?
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According to the Guardian, US ranks #1 confirming post #8 above

Australia’s use of methamphetamine has doubled in a decade, wastewater monitoring reveals​

Caitlin Cassidy
Thu 30 Apr 2026 00.08 AEST

Consumption is at a record high along with that of cocaine, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission figures show

Methamphetamine use in Australia has almost doubled in the past decade and stimulants are being taken at record highs, new wastewater monitoring reveals.

On Wednesday evening the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (Acic) released its latest annual report after testing wastewater samples from 64 treatment plants across the country between August 2024 and 2025.

It found that consumption of crystal meth, also known as ice, was at its highest recorded level since the program began in 2016, rising from 8,405kg to 15,971kg, exceeding previous annual averages across capital cities and regional areas. Australia became the second-highest consumer of meth in the world, trailing only the US, according to the Sewage Core Group Europe (Score) of 34 nations, which oversees international standards for wastewater testing.
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Paco Dennis said:
RankCountryStatus1United StatesLeads globally in per-person meth consumption.

2AustraliaUse has doubled in the last decade, reaching record highs in 2026.

3ChileRanked as the third-highest consumer in global wastewater comparisons.

4BelgiumHigh consumption rates found in urban wastewater samples.

5NetherlandsRounding out the top five global consumers for per-day dosage.
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We're number 1! We're number 1!!! USA! USA!!! USA!!! :ROFLMAO:
 
Sunkist said:
My initial comment- which was 'LOLed' at- was a compliment.
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I am so sorry, That was my mistake @Sunkist.
It was supposed to be a "hug", but apparently you got a "laugh".
I noticed it but I couldn't take it back once I clicked it.

I was Not laughing at your comment.
Thank you for the compliment.
 
Coconut said:
I am so sorry, That was my mistake @Sunkist.
It was supposed to be a "hug", but apparently you got a "laugh".
I noticed it but I couldn't take it back once I clicked it.

I was Not laughing at your comment.
Thank you for the compliment.
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Ok, thank you for clarifying.. I appreciate it!!
 
I got a surprise when I heard that statistic about Australia being #2 for meth use. But I must state that the increase of gangs
using violence in my area has increased. Only a couple of nights ago it came on the news a car was seen on camera racing
down the street firing a machine gun at a house which belongs to a Bikie gang member. This was just down the end of my street. It's frightening.
 
One key factor is, most people that consume illegal drugs, especially stimulants of all types, is that they choose to purposely deny and ignore for the sake of their immediate desired excited feeling, a long list of negative consequences, since problems may develop gradually, so are willing to gamble to continue to use. Alcoholics and nicotine addicts have a similar denying, ignoring behavior. The fact, many in society state such behaviors are something an individual cannot control because whatever is an addiction, is IMO to some extent, a convenient LIE, as if it isn't their fault, that gives users an excuse internally from their own real self controlled responsibility, to change.
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Google AI Overview:

Methedrine (methamphetamine) is medically harmful because it causes widespread neurotoxicity, cardiovascular strain, and severe multi-organ damage through both acute and chronic exposure.


🧠 Central Nervous System Damage
Methamphetamine acts as a powerful stimulant that forces a massive release of neurotransmitters, leading to significant brain damage over time.
  • Neurotoxicity: It destroys dopamine and serotonin nerve terminals, often leading to permanent cognitive deficits.
  • Brain Structure Changes: Chronic use alters gray and white matter, resulting in memory loss, impaired judgment, and reduced motor coordination.
  • Parkinson’s Risk: The damage to dopaminergic neurons in the striatum is similar to that seen in Parkinson's disease, significantly increasing the risk of developing the disorder later in life.
  • Psychosis: Users often experience "meth psychosis," characterized by paranoia, visual/auditory hallucinations, and delusions.
  • Stroke: Extreme spikes in blood pressure can cause both hemorrhagic (bleeding) and ischemic (blocked) strokes.


❤️ Cardiovascular & Internal Organ Harm
The drug puts the body into a "fight-or-flight" state that stresses every major organ system.
  • Heart Failure: It causes chronic high blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias), and direct damage to the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy).
  • Kidney & Liver Damage: Acute toxicity can lead to rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown), which releases toxins that cause acute kidney failure.
  • Gastrointestinal Ischemia: Constricted blood flow to the gut can cause bowel tissue death (infarction), which is potentially fatal.
  • Hyperthermia: High doses can raise body temperature to dangerous levels (>105°F), causing seizures and organ failure.


🦷 Visible & Systemic Physical Effects
Long-term use is associated with distinct physical decline and increased susceptibility to disease.
  • "Meth Mouth": Severe tooth decay and loss occur due to dry mouth (xerostomia), teeth grinding (bruxism), and poor hygiene.
  • Skin Sores: Compulsive scratching, often driven by the sensation of insects under the skin ("meth bugs" or formication), leads to non-healing sores and scarring.
  • Immune Suppression: It weakens both innate and adaptive immunity, making the body more vulnerable to infections like MRSA, HIV, and Hepatitis C.
  • Rapid Aging: Restricted blood flow and poor nutrition cause sagging, loss of skin elasticity, and a prematurely aged appearance.


Reproductive Risks
Use during pregnancy is strongly linked to adverse developmental outcomes.
  • Pregnancy Complications: Higher risks of miscarriage, placental abruption, and premature birth.
  • Infant Health: Infants may suffer from low birth weight, reduced head circumference, and long-term intellectual or behavioral impairments
 
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