Help needed as people with a history of meth use exit prison

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2023-03-15 03:00

Australia; NSW; VIC; QLD; WA

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People with a history of methamphetamine use come with a different risk profile as they leave prison compared to those who use opioids, according to Australian researchers who say the focus of research has mostly been on opioid users. The researchers surveyed incarcerated adults to identify those who used methamphetamines and compare them to opioid users. They say methamphetamine users were more likely to be under 25, Indigenous, have no history of prior incarceration, drug injection or overdose and were less likely to have hepatitis C. The researchers say that given methamphetamine use is more common among Australian prison entrants, support for people with a history of drug use as they exit prison needs to take this into account.