Abstract
This work applies propensity score matching to assess the impact of methamphetamine on mental health. Using Australian microdata from the 2013 National Drug Strategy Household Survey, Kessler scores of recent and non-recent methamphetamine users are analysed after controlling for confounding variables. The results support the decision to prepare frontline emergency service workers for the psychological issues present in those consuming methamphetamine. The results also highlight the importance for policy makers to develop effective harm reduction programmes. An estimate of the mental health costs associated with methamphetamine abuse is also presented, the findings of which strongly support additional government spending on harm reduction.
Highlights
Crystal methamphetamine (‘ice’) is an illegal recreational drug that has become widely available in Australia
Results from Propensity score matching (PSM) show the average treatment effect on the treated across all satisfied matching techniques to be 1.96 Kessler units
Medibank (2013) reports that Australians spent $28.55 billion on supporting people with mental illness in 2013.7 On the assumption that mental health expenditure is in proportion to individuals with Kessler score deficits, 8 the amount of mental health expenditure attributable to methamphetamine abuse is calculated as follows: 0.035 5.46 × $28.55bn = $183,012,821
Summary
Crystal methamphetamine (‘ice’) is an illegal recreational drug that has become widely available in Australia. Crystal methamphetamine remains a relatively under-researched drug, meaning policy decisions that are required today lack informed decision making. By way of quantitative analysis, this paper seeks to provide useful information for researchers and policy makers designing strategies aimed at understanding and reducing methamphetamine-related harm. The 2013 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2014) indicates that users of methamphetamine are shifting consumption preferences to a much more potent, crystallised form of the drug, ice. Given the limitations surrounding household surveys (a likely underrepresentation of illicit substance users), several researchers have sought to better understand methamphetamine usage in Australia through analysis of illicit drug-related hospital admissions and local wastewater analysis. Findings from this research suggest that methamphetamine consumption has rapidly increased in recent years
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