Western Australian Government To Cut Down Amphetamines Use In ADHD Treatment

The Western Australian government aims to cut reliance on amphetamines in treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) under a multi-million-dollar program.
Studies show dexamphetamines account for a substantial amount of amphetamine use by young people in WA.
The state has the nation's highest rate of amphetamine usage overall, and the highest rate of prescriptions of amphetamines for children diagnosed with ADHD.
WA Premier Alan Carpenter announced $9 million would be pumped into treatment of ADHD and the associated use of dexamphetamine.
"The teams will include professionals from a range of disciplines including psychiatrists, paediatricians, clinical psychologists, clinical nurses, speech pathologists, occupational therapists and social workers," Mr Carpenter said.
"While medication may still be required for severe cases of ADHD, this new approach will ensure that stimulant medication is not the first line of treatment."
The move is one of 49 recommendations adopted after a summit meeting held last month to tackle the illicit amphetamine scourge in WA.
Mr Carpenter said there was evidence to link the use of dexamphetamines during childhood to the broader use and abuse of amphetamines in adulthood.
"There is some evidence and a strongly held view amphetamines for the treatment of ADHD leads and encourages the use of amphetamines more broadly and clearly, obviously, the abuse," Mr Carpenter said.
Drug and Alcohol Office executive director Terry Murphy said the use of medication for ADHD patients was not wrong, but reliance on amphetamines in ADHD treatment was too heavy.
"Medication is not wrong per se. There will be some people for whom that is the optimum treatment, but here in Western Australia with the highest (rate) in the country, we think there is too heavy a reliance on that," Mr Murphy said.
Mr Murphy said 6.5 per cent of WA high school students reported using amphetamines and 5.5 per cent reported using diverted dexamphetamines.
"There's a big overlap between those two figures," Mr Murphy said.
A $16 million package has been earmarked to carry out recommendations to curb amphetamine use in WA, including tougher penalties for dealers who sell drugs around children or near licensed premises.
Under the changes, the sale of drugs to a child at or near a school or a public place where children are often present, will be considered an aggravated offence.

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