Petition addressed to:
The Honourable Mark Butler, Minister for Health and Aged Care, and the Department of Health and Aged Care

 
Petition text:

Australia continues to experience significant health, social, and economic harms associated with methamphetamine (“ice”) use, including overdose, stimulant-induced psychosis, family disruption, and increasing pressure on emergency, mental health, and justice systems.

Despite these impacts, treatment options for methamphetamine dependence remain limited, and relapse rates are high. In contrast to opioid dependence—where substitution therapies have delivered substantial public health benefits—there is currently no widely accessible, evidence-based pharmacological treatment for stimulant dependence in Australia.

Emerging international and Australian research indicates that carefully regulated prescription stimulant therapies—such as Dexamfetamine and lisdexamfetamine—may reduce illicit stimulant use, cravings, and associated harms when delivered under specialist medical supervision.

Randomised controlled trials conducted in Australia and internationally have demonstrated that stimulant substitution approaches can improve treatment retention and reduce methamphetamine use, although results remain mixed and further large-scale studies are required. Recent Australian clinical trials of lisdexamfetamine (a prodrug of dexamfetamine) have shown reductions in methamphetamine use and high treatment acceptability, supporting the need for continued investigation.

A cautious, evidence-led approach is needed to determine whether these therapies can be safely and effectively implemented within Australia’s healthcare system.

 
We call on the Australian Government to:

1. Fund and support nationally coordinated clinical trials investigating prescription stimulant treatment for methamphetamine dependence.
2. Establish a clear and efficient regulatory pathway through the Therapeutic Goods Administration to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and appropriate clinical use of these therapies.
3. Refer any evidence-supported treatments to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee for assessment and potential inclusion on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
4. Partner with state and territory governments to implement tightly controlled pilot programs—potentially commencing in smaller jurisdictions such as Tasmania—with rigorous monitoring and independent evaluation.
5. Engage with leading clinical and public health organisations, including the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs, and Harm Reduction Australia, to ensure policy is informed by the best available evidence.
    

Why this matters:

Evidence-based policy: Randomised controlled trials support further investigation of stimulant substitution therapy as a treatment pathway.

Reducing harm: A regulated clinical model has the potential to reduce overdose, psychosis, and drug-related harm.

Economic benefit: Effective treatment can reduce long-term costs across healthcare, policing, and social services.

A logical extension of existing models: Australia has successfully implemented opioid substitution therapy; similar evidence-based approaches should be explored for stimulant dependence.
 
Lived experience:

Lived experience highlights the potential of this approach.

One Australian with a history of heavy methamphetamine use—approximately 1 gram per day—has reported being able to stop using methamphetamine for over three months while stabilised on a low daily dose (1–3 tablets) of dexamfetamine.

While individual experiences do not replace clinical evidence, they underscore the urgent need to properly trial and evaluate treatment options that may reduce harm, support recovery, and improve long-term outcomes.

 
We urge the Australian Government to take a measured, scientifically grounded approach by investing in research and pilot programs that treat methamphetamine dependence as a health issue and prioritise harm reduction, recovery, and community wellbeing.

 
Sign and share this petition to support a safer, evidence-based response to methamphetamine dependence in Australia.