Australia's meth capital: Ice use is so rampant in one state that children are being exposed to the deadly drug through their junkie parents
- Studies found children dying under five have methamphetamine in their system
- Seven children who died between 2012 and 2016 had detectable amounts of ice
- Doctors fear 'significant numbers' of children are exposed to ice in community
- Figures showed Adelaide to have the highest level of methamphetamine use
The ice epidemic in South Australia is so bad there are fears children are being exposed to the deadly drug through their parents.
Doctors fear 'significant numbers' of children are being exposed to the illicit drug after seven were found with methamphetamine in their system during autopsies conducted by Forensic Science South Australia.
Studies indicate Adelaide has the highest use of methamphetamine out of any other city in the world.
The ice epidemic in South Australia is so bad there are fears children are being exposed to the deadly drug through their parents. Pictured: A large haul of methamphetamine seized by AFP
Forensic Science SA and Adelaide University studied drug records of 373 children since 2002 who died under the age of 13.
Researchers found the evidence of ice in the children's bodies was becoming an 'increasing problem' Adelaide Now reported.
The study, which was published in the Journal of Forensic Sciences, showed the need to keep illicit drugs away from children.
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Adelaide University co-author Professor Roger Byard said the alarming results were a warning that drugs could be passed from a mother to her children.
'Methamphetamine was considered potentially contributory to death in two cases, one with birth complications, and the other with a significant methamphetamine concentration following breastfeeding,' he said.
'As this is only a very small and select population, it would suggest that there may be significant numbers of the very young undetected in the Australian population who are being exposed to this drug.'
Doctors fear 'significant numbers' of children are being exposed to the illicit drug after seven were found with methamphetamine in their system during autopsies conducted by Forensic Science South Australia (Adelaide pictured)
Professor Byard said the results are unsurprising considering the increase in the use of amphetamines in Australia in recent years.
'According to the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission's 2015–2016 Illicit Drug Report, 67 per cent of illicit drug seizures in South Australia were related to amphetamine-type substances, exceeding cannabis seizures,' he said.
Both the long-term physical and psychological effects of the exposure to drugs is not clear but researchers and doctors are concerned.
All seven children who were found to have ice in their system when they died were under five years years old.
In March last year, the Australian Federal Police uncovered 18kg - or $13.5million worth - of methamphetamine (pictured) hidden in modified 4WD recovery winches in Adelaide
No cases of children dying with meth in their system were recorded between 2002 to 2006, one case was recorded between 2007 and 2011 with the remaining six cases recorded between 2012 and 2016.
Professor Byard said the confirmed cases of children with ice in their system is steadily increasing.
This means there is a more generalised increase in childhood exposure of the drug in the community, the professor said.
Of the 373 children who had forensic autopsies completed there were 37 drugs detected, including prescription medication such as paracetamol, ibuprofen, codeine as well as hospital-administered lignocaine and morphine.
