Nadine Ezard

Clinical Director, Alcohol and Drug Service St Vincent's Hospital Sydney Australia | Director, National Centre for Clinical Research on Emerging Drugs

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Methamphetamine use in Aboriginal communities has gained much media attention, despite limited research studies to ascertain the full extent of its use and its impact. We propose a randomised trial of a web based therapeutic tool for use in Aboriginal Medical Services to treat clients using methamphetamine. In addition, we will characterise the health and well-being of Aboriginal people who use methamphetamine and trial unique Aboriginal community led interventions to address methamphetamine use.

Project Collaborators External

James Ward South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute Limited
Carla Treloar University of New South Wales
Katherine Conigrave Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
Adrian Dunlop Hunter New England Local Health District
Edward Wilkes National Drug Research Institute
Dennis Gray National Drug Research Institute
Brendan Quinn Burnet Institute
Handan Wand University of New South Wales

Project Supporters

NHMRC Project Grant (1100696)

Methamphetamine is a stimulant type drug that is potent, illegal and readily available on the Australian illicit drug market. There is much concern about the widespread use of methamphetamine in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Aboriginal) communities. Only a few studies of methamphetamine use in Aboriginal communities have been completed and as such there are major gaps regarding patterns of methamphetamine use, the natural history of methamphetamine users (duration of use, frequency, methods of administration) and the health including mental health trajectories and social outcomes related to methamphetamine use. Importantly the trial of appropriate interventions to reduce methamphetamine use and its harms are urgently needed in Aboriginal communities, particularly in primary care services where Aboriginal people access.

We propose for the first time, a randomised trial of a web based therapeutic tool for use in Aboriginal Medical Services to treat clients using methamphetamines. In addition, we will describe the health and well-being of Aboriginal people who use methamphetamines and trial unique Aboriginal community led interventions. We will work in nine sites nationally from urban, regional and remote communities. The novel study will be ground-breaking and will contribute significantly to our understanding of this drug in Aboriginal community contexts as well as trial an intervention that will assist Aboriginal medical services in treating clients with methamphetamine use issues.

Design and Method

Focus groups with Aboriginal community members, service providers and stake-holders
A survey of people from Aboriginal communities who use methamphetamine
Development and evaluation of community-led prevention interventions aimed at addressing antecedents of MA use in Aboriginal communities
Development and randomised controlled trial of an web-based therapeutic program for treating methamphetamine dependence

Activities are being undertaken in collaboration with nine Aboriginal communities across Australia.

Progress/Update

Ongoing.

Benefits

The issue of MA up until now, has largely been ignored in Aboriginal communities. As such, there is limited understanding of the impact of MA use in the population. This research project will provide urgently needed information on the nature and extent of MA use in Aboriginal communities, including the impact of MA on individuals, families and communities.