Rethinking the Methamphetamine Situation: Perceptions of Risk and Current Policy Dialogue

Abstract

The ‘war on drugs’ has engendered significant recent debate, encompassing a variety of opinions, evidence and knowledge (though often polarised), from a wide range of sources. In Australia, much of this debate has focused on the harms and risks associated with illicit drugs. Often of concern has been young people's use of illicit drugs in nightclubs, which recent media and government reports suggest has increased and requires critical review given young people's relative lack of knowledge and their desire for risk-taking behaviour. While there have been many attempts to address this subject, the persistence of this practice questions the effectiveness of current ‘expert’ strategies and highlights the need for a more nuanced, bottom-up approach. This article draws from mixed-method research that examined young people's risk perceptions, leisure practices and, for some, use of methamphetamines in five key nightclubs in Adelaide, South Australia. The article provides a snapshot of the prevalence of methamphetamine use, evaluates current policy responses, and details key empirical findings, concluding that there is need for a more open and diverse policy dialogue.