PSYCHOLOGICAL MORBIDITY AND ROUTE OF ADMINISTRATION AMONG AMPHETAMINEUSERS IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

A sample of 301 amphetamine users were interviewed about their experie nces of psychological symptoms prior to, and subsequent to, their init iation of amphetamine use. Psychological morbidity was common, with 44 % scoring greater than a conservative cut-off of 8 on the General Heal th Questionnaire. The most commonly reported symptoms subsequent to th e onset of amphetamine use were depression (79%), anxiety (76%), paran oia (52%), hallucinations (46%) and violent behaviour (44%). All these symptoms increased in prevalence after the onset of amphetamine use. Route and frequency of amphetamine administration were significant ind ependent predictors of overall psychological morbidity, while route of administration was related to the experience of hallucinations, viole nt behaviour and paranoia. The avoidance of injection as a route of ad ministration and the use of amphetamines less than weekly are recommen ded as steps that users can take to reduce the psychological seguelae of amphetamine use.