Australia's methamphetamine use soars to all-time high: report

Australia's use of illegal methamphetamines such as ice is at an all-time high, a report has found.

Odyssey House, one of Australia's largest drug rehabilitation organizations based in Melbourne, said in its annual report released on Monday that the number of people who admitted to amphetamine use went up 53 percent in 2016.

Julie Babineau, the CEO of Odyssey House, said ice was a very addictive and much more potent than other drugs.

"We see that heroin and opiates has really gone down and, I think, that's what the people out there are looking for -- the purity," Babineau said.

"And they're looking for the cost as well and the availability."

The report said that half of the amphetamine users in Australia were seeking help for their addiction while heroin and opioid use went down 45 percent in 2016.

Babineau said that the growth in ice addiction was proof that Australian governments needed to increase long-term funding to fight ice addiction as well as establishing more facilities, trained staff and support for addicts.

"They get in trouble, and once you get in trouble, there's the trifecta," she told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

"More and more of these people will be needing residential rehab and any help with their addiction to be able to get back on track."

The report found that two thirds of Australian drug users in 2016 were over the age of 30 with users reporting their first intoxication at a much younger age than a decade ago. Endit