THE yearly death toll linked to methamphetamine (ice) use in Australia doubled between 2009 and 2015, according to new Australian research from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) released today.
The study, published in the journal Addiction, analysed 1,649 meth-related deaths and found that overdose was the most common cause of death at 43% followed by 'natural' diseases such as heart disease at 22% and suicide at 18%.
Lead author Professor Shane Darke said these results were indicative of a major public health issue, with almost half of cases in rural and regional locations.
"To see such large and significant increases in mortality rates over the study period indicates a major methamphetamine problem," Darke added.
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