Quantifying the risks of methamphetamine dependence and interventions to reduce harm

Methamphetamine is a global health concern, with harms including psychosis, suicide, violence, stroke, and mortality. These cost Australia ~$5billion per annum. Few data are available on the extent of use, and even fewer on what interventions reduce harms. We lead international efforts to develop estimation methods for prevalence of use and are trialling interventions to reduce harms. This PhD will inform policy response by generating:

• Australian and global estimates of methamphetamine dependence, injecting, and related harms
• Cost-effectiveness estimates for methamphetamine treatment and harm reduction interventions
• Estimates of impacts of novel interventions on the extent of methamphetamine use, dependence and harms

Primary supervisor: Scientia Professor Louisa Degenhardt
Joint supervisor: Associate Professor Rebecca McKetin
Secondary supervisor: Dr Amy Peacock

Candidate requirements:

• Masters or Honours in public health, epidemiology, bio/statistics or a related field
• Strong skills in quantitative analysis
• Track record of publication of peer-reviewed scientific articles
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

How to Apply

For more information about this project please contact Associate Professor Rebecca McKetin (r.mcketin@unsw.edu.au).