Drug of choice's chilling effects

It is easy to get hold of, cheap to buy and the side-effects seem pretty attractive - until you get hooked.

Methamphetamine, simply known as meth, is highly addictive and the latest national study into the drug shows a spike in its use.

This comes as no surprise to those close to the Illawarra drug scene who say methamphetamine is now the region's party drug of choice - one which can have a "devastating" effect on young people.

In its latest report, the Australian Institute of Criminology's Drug Use Monitoring in Australia (DUMA) program found methamphetamine use was on the rise.

In the first nine months of 2011, 21 per cent of police detainees tested positive to methamphetamine - up from 16 per cent in 2010 and 13 per cent in 2009.

Lake Illawarra police crime manager Detective Chief Inspector Michael McLean described methamphetamine as a "prominent" drug in the region.

"I think certainly over the years anecdotally my experience is that yes, it is more commonly available than other drugs, but that changes," he said.

Of the three main forms, crystal meth was by far the most popular among Illawarra users, Insp McLean said.

He said in contrast to heroin, which was imported into the country, meth could potentially be produced locally.

Wollongong crime manager Detective Inspector Tim Beattie said he had witnessed a dramatic rise in the drug's popularity during his career in the force.

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Drug of choice's chilling effects