Australia: Crystal daze

In five years the use of cystal among a sample of regular drug users went from zero to 43 percent. Paul Dillon looks at the implications.

If anecdotal information is anything to go by, the use of crystal appears to be increasing among certain populations of gay men in Sydney. Data collected by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre indicates that crystal has literally exploded onto the party scene over the past few years. In a 1997 survey of regular ecstasy users, none of those interviewed reported using the drug, but by 2002, 43 percent of a similar sample said they had tried crystal. GPs, telephone counselling services, and a list of key alcohol and other drug and mental health agencies have all noted an increase in the number of patients/clients seeking information or treatment for crystal-related problems.

So what is crystal exactly? What sort of problems is it causing in our community and what can we do about it?

Over the last few years Australia has seen the emergence of new forms of methamphetamine available on the illicit drug market.

Traditionally methamphetamine available in Australia was sold in a powder form as “speed”. However, in the past few years, new more pure forms of the drug have emerged – notably so-called “base” methamphetamine and crystal methamphetamine or “ice”.
In the 1980s and early 1990s the most common psycho-stimulant available in Australia was speed powder. At that time there was great pressure put on law enforcement to respond to the increasing speed problem and as a result many clandestine laboratories were uncovered. As these were raided and the police discovered what precursors were used to manufacture the drug they were made illegal and became more difficult to obtain.

Manufacturers responded to this by replacing ingredients and subsequently the purity of speed began to plummet – dropping at one point to an average purity level of five percent.

Manufacturers then switched to a different method, one which was not so dependent on difficult-to-obtain ingredients. As a result amphetamine sulfate has now been replaced by methamphetamine hydrochloride (a crystalline salt). In NSW, drugs seized by federal and local law enforcement agencies showed an increase of methamphetamine compared to amphetamine from 78 percent in 1996/97 to 100 percent in 2000/01.

It is chemically similar to amphetamine but it is more potent psychologically as a result of an extra methyl molecule. Most of the methamphetamine available in Australia appears to be made locally, with the exception of crystalline methamphetamine. This high purity crystal is imported into Australia from South East Asia. The amount of crystalline methamphetamine detected at the border by the Australian Customs Service increased from less than 1kg in 1997/98 to over 150kg by 2001/02.

Base methamphetamine – also known as “paste”, “wax”, “point” or “pure” – is a sticky, gluggy, waxy or oily form of damp powder paste or crystal that is manufactured in Australia and often has a yellow or brownish hue. True base methamphetamine is an oil, and may also occur in a waxy form. This “oily” form of the drug is not soluble in water and consequently would be difficult to inject, and would also be difficult to snort. Some experts believe that most methamphetamine in Australia is probably poorly purified methamphetamine crystal resulting from an incomplete conversion of methamphetamine base to methamphetamine crystal.

Methamphetamine is not a new drug. It’s been around for a long time – so what is so different about the drug this time around? Why all of the apparent problems? The major difference appears to be an increased purity and the form it is now being sold in. Speed has traditionally been available in a powder form in the gay community and as a result, most users snorted or swallowed the drug, although there were a small proportion who injected it. If you try to smoke powder speed the drug burns too quickly and most of it is lost. Now that is available in a crystal form and it burns more slowly this form of ingestion is much more cost-effective. Smoking any drug results in rapid absorption into the bloodstream across the lining of the lung (the alveolar membrane). Since the surface of the lung is large and the diffusion distance comparatively short, this is a very effective way to achieve rapid absorption. Put simply, when you smoke the drug you are taking a lot of the drug in; as crystal tends to be a purer form of the drug on the most part, you are dramatically increasing the level of amphetamine in your system by smoking crystal compared to snorting a line of speed.

Over the past months there has been great debate about crystal and its links with HIV transmission. Some suggest that one of the biggest risks involved with the drug is unprotected and uninhibited sex while under the influence. However, there is no good Australian data to back this up. What we do know is that most crystal users also use a range of other drugs – most of which are also disinhibitors. Is it possible to distinguish one from the others?

We do know that many people who have unsafe sex say that they do so when they are “out of it”. Is crystal really such a different drug that you are more out of it than you are on alcohol, ecstasy or GHB?

How the drug is administered, what setting it is being used in and who uses the drug all play an important part in what problems will occur. As a community we need to address the problems that are arising due to apparent crystal use realistically and acknowledge that it is not just the drug that can be examined in isolation.

There is no getting away from the fact that crystal does have unique properties that make it extremely problematic. It can be a very pure drug and it is usually administered in a way that ensures the drug reaches the brain quickly (either smoked or injected). This increases the risk of psychosis. It is also unlike other party drugs such as ecstasy in that it has a powerful potential for addiction.

Some users are definitely experiencing great problems with the drug but there are many factors at play and these need to be considered when we are giving messages around safer use.

TIPS FOR SAFER USE

The only way to avoid experiencing any problems with crystal is not to use it. For some people that is not an option, so here are some tips for those people who choose to use the drug.

If you are going to buy crystal, buy it in very small amounts. This is a very “more-ish” drug and people find themselves going on binges – the smaller amount you have, the less you will use.

Stock up on condoms, gloves and lube. This can be a very sexual drug and after any drug you can become so disinhibited that you forget the basics around safe sex.

The effect of smoking crystal lasts for a long time – one or two puffs should be enough to keep you going for a long time. Don’t overdo it.

Smoking crystal can cause heat burns and cuts to the lips. Sharing pipes can lead to the transmission of blood borne viruses such as Hepatitis C. Cover the mouthpiece of the pipe with plastic tape to prevent this.

Remember to eat, drink lots of water and get some sleep. A weekend of full-on partying is going to take its toll on you, both physically and psychologically – take some time to look after yourself.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org/amphetablog.html
Pubdate: 26th February 2004
Source: Sydney Star Observer
Author: Paul Dillan
Website: http://www.ssonet.com.au/
Address: PO Box 939, Darlinghurst NSW 1300, Australia
Email: mail@ssonet.com.au
Copyright: 2004 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Community Publishing