PUBLIC HEALTH AND ILLICIT DRUG METH 1 Essay Example

Public Health and Illicit Drug Meth

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Prochaska and Disclement 1986 in Crane, Buckley & Francis, (2012) the Trans-theoretical model, is most often used for guiding interventions in psychosocial illicit drug use. The stages are, pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action and maintenance (Lapse-relapse). From the model, the adaptation of an intervention may not follow a linear progress, rather relapse and lapse may occur at any stage. Being a spiral pattern in case a relapse occur at any stage of development, the target audience goes back to earlier stage or precontemplation stage, and may feel guilty, ashamed and embarrassed. In Australia methamphetamine consumers who are mostly youths and low-income disadvantaged communities can be said to have experienced a relapsed a time they should be in maintenance stage. There is increased awareness creation among rehabilitation programs, addressing vulnerability, harm reduction and increasing the level of engagement via National Drugs Campaigns supported by NDS (National Drug Strategy).

Initially, methamphetamines users try to attempt to stop using the drug on their own on making such choices. They can achieve this by avoiding their social groups but is quite a challenge among smaller social networks like indigenous communities, bisexual, lesbian, gay either in regional or n rural zones. Between 2010 and 2013 powder methamphetamine went down to 29% from 51% as per the 2013 NSHS but crystal methamphetamine use did double to 50% from 22%. Unfortunately ice is the most pure type of the drug, and is highly intense likely to lead to chronic mental and physical problem, addictions, and comedown. The increase frequency escalated to 15.5% from 9.3% per week in 2013 and 2010 respectively. Compared to major cities those in very remote zones consumes twice as much as per 2013 survey (National Rural alliance, Inc., 2015). Also, in the past two years women consuming amphetamine has increased from 39% to 55%; smoking amphetamine rate has gone up to 40% from 20% (Ting, 2015).

References

Crane, P., Buckley, J. & Francis, C. (2012). Youth Alcohol and Drug Good Practice Guide 1: A Framework for Youth Alcohol and Other Drug Practice. Brisbane: Dovetail.

National Rural Health Alliance Inc., (2015). Illicit Drug Use in Rural Australia. Fact Sheet 33. Retrieved 5/24/17 from, http://ruralhealth.org.au/sites/default/files/publications/nrha-factsheet-illicit-drugs-0615.pdf

Ting, I. (2015). Behind Australia’s Love Affair with Illicit Drugs. The Sydney Morning Gerald. Retrieved 5/24/17 from, http://www.smh.com.au/national/health/behind-australias-love-affair-with-illicit-drugs-20150424-1msnzz.html