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The Advertiser
39 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Winning trio get Aussie Wimbledon show back on the road
Australia's Wimbledon challenge has been reinvigorated after a disastrous opening day with the national No.1s Alex de Minaur and Daria Kasatkina leading a much-improved performance on day two. On another sweltering day in London on Tuesday, the pair raced into the second round by early afternoon and were swiftly joined by Aleksandar Vukic. Seven Australians had lost in Monday's calamitous start with only an injured Jordan Thompson battling through. But Tuesday was a fresh day, albeit another very hot one, and 16th seed Kasatkina became the first and only one of the seven Aussie women to clear the opening hurdle with her 7-5 6-3 victory over Colombian Emiliana Arango. Having lost her three matches on grass this season, it was no surprise Kasatkina made hard work of subduing her lively opponent, and she revealed she had been so nervous in her first Wimbledon appearance since switching her allegiance to Australia that she vomited outside just before entering court 14. "A lot of people saw it five metres from the court. I vomit, so just before entering the court, yes, the little accident happened, like, completely out of nerves," she explained. "There was nothing else wrong with me except this. The nerves came from not having enough confidence, losing couple of matches in a row, playing the first match of the day." She certainly wasn't then helped by dishing up 11 double faults and 38 unforced errors against the world No.76, but the South American certainly contributed to her own defeat, making 39 errors of her own. De Minaur was far more authoritative in his first grand slam appearance since taking a break after his shock second-round exit at the French Open, beating Spain's Roberto Carballes Baena 6-2 6-2 7-6 (7-2) in two hours 25 minutes. Even a delay while an unwell ball boy was replaced, just before he was to serve to stay in the third set at 5-6, didn't faze the 11th seed. De Minaur's form was encouraging given his lack of match practice on grass. He had skipped his defence of his 's-Hertogenbosch title to recover from feeling burned out after his early exit from Roland Garros, then lost in the first round at Queen's Club. "It felt like a very solid match against a tough competitor, and there was a little bit of everything. There was some really good tennis. There was some tough moments, which I played through," said de Minaur, whose family watched from courtside. "At the end I had to lift my level when I needed it and played some clutch tennis to finish it off. So overall, quite happy." The chances of an all-Sydney second-round meeting were extinguished, though, after Adam Walton, having battled back from two sets down, lost 6-3 7-6 (8-6) 4-6 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 to Frenchman Arthur Cazaux. Vukic had a useful workout in beating Chinese Taipei's Chun-Hsin Tseng 6-3 6-4 4-6 7-6 (7-5) in just over three hours, setting up a daunting meeting with world No.1 Jannik Sinner who beat compatriot Luca Nardi 6-4 6-3 6-0. It will be the second year running Sydneysider Vukic has drawn a big gun in the last-64 after impressing while losing to champion Carlos Alcaraz in 2024. "I've really nothing to lose," said Vukic. "He'll be the one feeling the pressure. If there's a surface to play him on it's probably this one because it is a bit more random, so more upsets can happen. Hopefully, I can be one of those." Sinner agreed that "he has has nothing to lose, things won't be easy for me", while adding: "Australian tennis is in a good spot, they have some good players." Beyond Kasatkina's win, it was a chastening day for the Australian women's challenge, with the biggest disappointment being 19-year-old new Eastbourne champion Maya Joint's fairly routine 6-3 6-2 defeat to a teak tough first-round opponent, Russian 19th seed Liudmila Samsonova. It was deja vu for Joint who had won the Morocco Open in Rabat the weekend before losing in the first round at Roland Garros. "It's something I hope to get used to, but it was a lot different from the last time when I was coming from Morocco," the teenager said. "I obviously expected to do a bit better but Liudmila played really well." Priscilla Hon went down 6-2 7-5 to Russian 18th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova while fellow debutant, Sydney's James McCabe, was well beaten 6-1 6-4 6-3 by Hungary's world No.58, Fabian Marozsan. Australia's Wimbledon challenge has been reinvigorated after a disastrous opening day with the national No.1s Alex de Minaur and Daria Kasatkina leading a much-improved performance on day two. On another sweltering day in London on Tuesday, the pair raced into the second round by early afternoon and were swiftly joined by Aleksandar Vukic. Seven Australians had lost in Monday's calamitous start with only an injured Jordan Thompson battling through. But Tuesday was a fresh day, albeit another very hot one, and 16th seed Kasatkina became the first and only one of the seven Aussie women to clear the opening hurdle with her 7-5 6-3 victory over Colombian Emiliana Arango. Having lost her three matches on grass this season, it was no surprise Kasatkina made hard work of subduing her lively opponent, and she revealed she had been so nervous in her first Wimbledon appearance since switching her allegiance to Australia that she vomited outside just before entering court 14. "A lot of people saw it five metres from the court. I vomit, so just before entering the court, yes, the little accident happened, like, completely out of nerves," she explained. "There was nothing else wrong with me except this. The nerves came from not having enough confidence, losing couple of matches in a row, playing the first match of the day." She certainly wasn't then helped by dishing up 11 double faults and 38 unforced errors against the world No.76, but the South American certainly contributed to her own defeat, making 39 errors of her own. De Minaur was far more authoritative in his first grand slam appearance since taking a break after his shock second-round exit at the French Open, beating Spain's Roberto Carballes Baena 6-2 6-2 7-6 (7-2) in two hours 25 minutes. Even a delay while an unwell ball boy was replaced, just before he was to serve to stay in the third set at 5-6, didn't faze the 11th seed. De Minaur's form was encouraging given his lack of match practice on grass. He had skipped his defence of his 's-Hertogenbosch title to recover from feeling burned out after his early exit from Roland Garros, then lost in the first round at Queen's Club. "It felt like a very solid match against a tough competitor, and there was a little bit of everything. There was some really good tennis. There was some tough moments, which I played through," said de Minaur, whose family watched from courtside. "At the end I had to lift my level when I needed it and played some clutch tennis to finish it off. So overall, quite happy." The chances of an all-Sydney second-round meeting were extinguished, though, after Adam Walton, having battled back from two sets down, lost 6-3 7-6 (8-6) 4-6 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 to Frenchman Arthur Cazaux. Vukic had a useful workout in beating Chinese Taipei's Chun-Hsin Tseng 6-3 6-4 4-6 7-6 (7-5) in just over three hours, setting up a daunting meeting with world No.1 Jannik Sinner who beat compatriot Luca Nardi 6-4 6-3 6-0. It will be the second year running Sydneysider Vukic has drawn a big gun in the last-64 after impressing while losing to champion Carlos Alcaraz in 2024. "I've really nothing to lose," said Vukic. "He'll be the one feeling the pressure. If there's a surface to play him on it's probably this one because it is a bit more random, so more upsets can happen. Hopefully, I can be one of those." Sinner agreed that "he has has nothing to lose, things won't be easy for me", while adding: "Australian tennis is in a good spot, they have some good players." Beyond Kasatkina's win, it was a chastening day for the Australian women's challenge, with the biggest disappointment being 19-year-old new Eastbourne champion Maya Joint's fairly routine 6-3 6-2 defeat to a teak tough first-round opponent, Russian 19th seed Liudmila Samsonova. It was deja vu for Joint who had won the Morocco Open in Rabat the weekend before losing in the first round at Roland Garros. "It's something I hope to get used to, but it was a lot different from the last time when I was coming from Morocco," the teenager said. "I obviously expected to do a bit better but Liudmila played really well." Priscilla Hon went down 6-2 7-5 to Russian 18th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova while fellow debutant, Sydney's James McCabe, was well beaten 6-1 6-4 6-3 by Hungary's world No.58, Fabian Marozsan. Australia's Wimbledon challenge has been reinvigorated after a disastrous opening day with the national No.1s Alex de Minaur and Daria Kasatkina leading a much-improved performance on day two. On another sweltering day in London on Tuesday, the pair raced into the second round by early afternoon and were swiftly joined by Aleksandar Vukic. Seven Australians had lost in Monday's calamitous start with only an injured Jordan Thompson battling through. But Tuesday was a fresh day, albeit another very hot one, and 16th seed Kasatkina became the first and only one of the seven Aussie women to clear the opening hurdle with her 7-5 6-3 victory over Colombian Emiliana Arango. Having lost her three matches on grass this season, it was no surprise Kasatkina made hard work of subduing her lively opponent, and she revealed she had been so nervous in her first Wimbledon appearance since switching her allegiance to Australia that she vomited outside just before entering court 14. "A lot of people saw it five metres from the court. I vomit, so just before entering the court, yes, the little accident happened, like, completely out of nerves," she explained. "There was nothing else wrong with me except this. The nerves came from not having enough confidence, losing couple of matches in a row, playing the first match of the day." She certainly wasn't then helped by dishing up 11 double faults and 38 unforced errors against the world No.76, but the South American certainly contributed to her own defeat, making 39 errors of her own. De Minaur was far more authoritative in his first grand slam appearance since taking a break after his shock second-round exit at the French Open, beating Spain's Roberto Carballes Baena 6-2 6-2 7-6 (7-2) in two hours 25 minutes. Even a delay while an unwell ball boy was replaced, just before he was to serve to stay in the third set at 5-6, didn't faze the 11th seed. De Minaur's form was encouraging given his lack of match practice on grass. He had skipped his defence of his 's-Hertogenbosch title to recover from feeling burned out after his early exit from Roland Garros, then lost in the first round at Queen's Club. "It felt like a very solid match against a tough competitor, and there was a little bit of everything. There was some really good tennis. There was some tough moments, which I played through," said de Minaur, whose family watched from courtside. "At the end I had to lift my level when I needed it and played some clutch tennis to finish it off. So overall, quite happy." The chances of an all-Sydney second-round meeting were extinguished, though, after Adam Walton, having battled back from two sets down, lost 6-3 7-6 (8-6) 4-6 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 to Frenchman Arthur Cazaux. Vukic had a useful workout in beating Chinese Taipei's Chun-Hsin Tseng 6-3 6-4 4-6 7-6 (7-5) in just over three hours, setting up a daunting meeting with world No.1 Jannik Sinner who beat compatriot Luca Nardi 6-4 6-3 6-0. It will be the second year running Sydneysider Vukic has drawn a big gun in the last-64 after impressing while losing to champion Carlos Alcaraz in 2024. "I've really nothing to lose," said Vukic. "He'll be the one feeling the pressure. If there's a surface to play him on it's probably this one because it is a bit more random, so more upsets can happen. Hopefully, I can be one of those." Sinner agreed that "he has has nothing to lose, things won't be easy for me", while adding: "Australian tennis is in a good spot, they have some good players." Beyond Kasatkina's win, it was a chastening day for the Australian women's challenge, with the biggest disappointment being 19-year-old new Eastbourne champion Maya Joint's fairly routine 6-3 6-2 defeat to a teak tough first-round opponent, Russian 19th seed Liudmila Samsonova. It was deja vu for Joint who had won the Morocco Open in Rabat the weekend before losing in the first round at Roland Garros. "It's something I hope to get used to, but it was a lot different from the last time when I was coming from Morocco," the teenager said. "I obviously expected to do a bit better but Liudmila played really well." Priscilla Hon went down 6-2 7-5 to Russian 18th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova while fellow debutant, Sydney's James McCabe, was well beaten 6-1 6-4 6-3 by Hungary's world No.58, Fabian Marozsan. Australia's Wimbledon challenge has been reinvigorated after a disastrous opening day with the national No.1s Alex de Minaur and Daria Kasatkina leading a much-improved performance on day two. On another sweltering day in London on Tuesday, the pair raced into the second round by early afternoon and were swiftly joined by Aleksandar Vukic. Seven Australians had lost in Monday's calamitous start with only an injured Jordan Thompson battling through. But Tuesday was a fresh day, albeit another very hot one, and 16th seed Kasatkina became the first and only one of the seven Aussie women to clear the opening hurdle with her 7-5 6-3 victory over Colombian Emiliana Arango. Having lost her three matches on grass this season, it was no surprise Kasatkina made hard work of subduing her lively opponent, and she revealed she had been so nervous in her first Wimbledon appearance since switching her allegiance to Australia that she vomited outside just before entering court 14. "A lot of people saw it five metres from the court. I vomit, so just before entering the court, yes, the little accident happened, like, completely out of nerves," she explained. "There was nothing else wrong with me except this. The nerves came from not having enough confidence, losing couple of matches in a row, playing the first match of the day." She certainly wasn't then helped by dishing up 11 double faults and 38 unforced errors against the world No.76, but the South American certainly contributed to her own defeat, making 39 errors of her own. De Minaur was far more authoritative in his first grand slam appearance since taking a break after his shock second-round exit at the French Open, beating Spain's Roberto Carballes Baena 6-2 6-2 7-6 (7-2) in two hours 25 minutes. Even a delay while an unwell ball boy was replaced, just before he was to serve to stay in the third set at 5-6, didn't faze the 11th seed. De Minaur's form was encouraging given his lack of match practice on grass. He had skipped his defence of his 's-Hertogenbosch title to recover from feeling burned out after his early exit from Roland Garros, then lost in the first round at Queen's Club. "It felt like a very solid match against a tough competitor, and there was a little bit of everything. There was some really good tennis. There was some tough moments, which I played through," said de Minaur, whose family watched from courtside. "At the end I had to lift my level when I needed it and played some clutch tennis to finish it off. So overall, quite happy." The chances of an all-Sydney second-round meeting were extinguished, though, after Adam Walton, having battled back from two sets down, lost 6-3 7-6 (8-6) 4-6 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 to Frenchman Arthur Cazaux. Vukic had a useful workout in beating Chinese Taipei's Chun-Hsin Tseng 6-3 6-4 4-6 7-6 (7-5) in just over three hours, setting up a daunting meeting with world No.1 Jannik Sinner who beat compatriot Luca Nardi 6-4 6-3 6-0. It will be the second year running Sydneysider Vukic has drawn a big gun in the last-64 after impressing while losing to champion Carlos Alcaraz in 2024. "I've really nothing to lose," said Vukic. "He'll be the one feeling the pressure. If there's a surface to play him on it's probably this one because it is a bit more random, so more upsets can happen. Hopefully, I can be one of those." Sinner agreed that "he has has nothing to lose, things won't be easy for me", while adding: "Australian tennis is in a good spot, they have some good players." Beyond Kasatkina's win, it was a chastening day for the Australian women's challenge, with the biggest disappointment being 19-year-old new Eastbourne champion Maya Joint's fairly routine 6-3 6-2 defeat to a teak tough first-round opponent, Russian 19th seed Liudmila Samsonova. It was deja vu for Joint who had won the Morocco Open in Rabat the weekend before losing in the first round at Roland Garros. "It's something I hope to get used to, but it was a lot different from the last time when I was coming from Morocco," the teenager said. "I obviously expected to do a bit better but Liudmila played really well." Priscilla Hon went down 6-2 7-5 to Russian 18th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova while fellow debutant, Sydney's James McCabe, was well beaten 6-1 6-4 6-3 by Hungary's world No.58, Fabian Marozsan.
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Ten affordable UK beaches that are exotic dupes of Thailand and Australia – with 3-night stays from £36pp
WHITE sandy beaches, turquoise waters and palm trees gently swaying in the breeze - sounds exotic right? Except you don't have to hop on a plane to get there. The UK has more than 7,700 miles of coastline and around 1,500 Advertisement 21 The UK has plenty of stunning beaches, like Barafundle Bay Beach in Pembrokeshire - that match exotic coastlines across the world Credit: Alamy 21 Barafundle, above, is a dead ringer for the Caribbean island of Anguilla, pictured - a beauty spot loved by honeymooners that's a nine-hour flight away Credit: Alamy So it's no surprise that some of With some Plus, without the pricey air fare and school holiday scrum, you'll end up sunning yourself for a Advertisement From Australian coastlines to hidden Portuguese beaches, here are some of the best destination 'dupes' you can visit in the UK instead: 21 Barafundle Bay in Wales or the Caribbean? Visit Wales says: "With swathes of golden sand and crystal clear waters, Barafundle has been voted many times as one of the best beaches in Britain, and the world - it's often likened to a Being off the beaten track means you won't see Advertisement But it also means you won't have any facilities like cafes or toilets, so make sure to bring everything with you. Everything you take has to be carried back up over the cliff. However, there is a cafe and toilets at Where to stay: Book a quirky Yurt at Durdle Door, Dorset or Algarve, Portugal? 21 The rock cliff arch near Marinha beach in Portugal is a busy spot on the sunny Algarve Credit: Alamy 21 Our very own Durdle Door in Dorset is almost identical and the beach is beautiful too. However, both beaches are very popular in the summer. Credit: Alamy Advertisement The famous Durdle Door has also been compared to beaches abroad, but the Found in the Algarve is Marina Beach, which has an almost identical natural rock arch formation in the sea, just like the beauty spot in Dorset. Just be ready for a walk - with 143 stone steps down to the sand - and it Europe's best beaches according to Tripadvisor Locals from the area love this spot in the low season when it isn't overrun with tourists. Emily Luxton, who runs the local website Advertisement Where to stay: The family-run Scarborough or Australia? 21 Bathing boxes - what the Australians call beach huts - along Brighton beach in Victoria Credit: Alamy 21 The colourful beach huts at North Sands beach in Scarborough have been recently renovated and can be rented out by the public Credit: Alamy Not many people would expect However, the multicoloured beach huts of the English seaside resort look just like somewhere Advertisement Yet Brighton Beach in Australia looks just like North Beach in Scarborough, thanks to its long line of Budget-friendly Scarborough has long been a The beach huts here have recently been lovingly restored to their former glory, and you can rent them for £50 for the whole day. A lot cheaper than a flight ticket south of the equator! Of course, don't expect the same Aussie weather in Scarborough, so remember to pack a jacket. The Advertisement Achmelvich Bay in Scotland or the Bahamas? 21 Half Moon Cay island in the Bahamas is picture-perfect but it's a fair way to travel. Credit: Alamy 21 Achmelvich bay in Scotland is an almost-secret paradise right here in the UK Credit: Alamy Photographer Quintin Lake compared the beach to the He told Sun Travel: " "The sea looks turquoise, which you'll see in the book. Advertisement "The "When I went, it was The beach was even listed in the annual Stay virtually on the beach, with Prices can soar in the summer, but there is also a Advertisement Scotland or Thailand? 21 People can't believe this stunning white beach is in Scotland, found on the Isle of Berneray in the Outer Hebrides. Credit: Alamy 21 Berneray's beaches are just as picture-perfect as Koh Chang Island in Thailand Credit: Alamy You'd be forgiven for thinking And it's not just you - in 2009, a Both beaches have beautiful white sands, with the Scottish beach getting its white hue from shingle made from broken shells. Advertisement It was even named one of the One tourist wrote online: "This place is truly Heaven on Earth. I spent two hours on this beach and despite it's incredible beauty, I never saw another soul. " The This remote spot in the Outer Hebrides doesn't have too many accommodation options nearby, but nab one of these Pedn Vounder in Cornwall or Bali? 21 Pedn Vounder Beach in Cornwall looks like a tropical paradise and it's never busy due to the hike down from the cliff. Credit: Alamy Advertisement 21 Bali is a stunning destination, but Indonesia is no quick flight so it's good to know there is a near-identical bay in Cornwall Credit: Alamy The You might not expect This sunny stretch has even been named one of the world's best beaches, according to the Part of the reason this beach is unspoilt and less crowded is that it's not the easiest to get to with a steep climb down from the car park. Advertisement But, once you've staked your place in the sand, you can stay all day and bask in the Bali-esk breeze - just pack your own cocktail in a can. A great option for families to stay close to the shores of Pedn Vounder is the Rhossili Bay, Wales or Skiathos Island, Greece? 21 Rhossili Bay in Wales is equally as beautiful as the beaches in Crete Credit: Alamy 21 The exotic Koukounaries bay on Skiathos island is one of Greece's best beaches, but it gets very busy with day trippers Credit: Alamy Another sweet spot in Wales is the serene Advertisement Often cited in round-ups of the best beaches in the UK, Rhossili Bay was also celebrated in the Happy Place campaign this year, launched by A warm stroll on this coast in the sunshine could have you mistaking this spot for the exotic Generally thought to be one of the most Go now before too many people find out about it. People are so stunned by the beautiful Welsh beach, the council's Visit Advertisement Its Facebook page has reached more than 6.4 million people this year, with the number of likes, shares, comments and link clicks up over 114% compared to 2022. Take the family glamping just 25 minutes from Rhossili Bay at Eastbourne or Big Sur, California? 21 The Seven Sisters cliffs is one of the UK's most dramatic coastlines Credit: Alamy 21 California's Big Sur is a stunning vista from the famous Highway 1 that leads from LA to San Francisco Credit: Alamy Big Sur is one of the most dramatic coastlines in the USA, with sweeping views, towering cliffs and a Advertisement While Big Sur stretches over 70 miles along the west coast of California, we have our own cinematic landscape here in the form of Seven Sisters Country Park and the South Downs National Park, known for their stunning coastal scenery and hiking trails. Just outside Famous for its towering white chalk cliffs, the notorious Beachy Head is the highest in Britain, offering dramatic views of the English Channel and the coastline. Known mainly for its beautiful vista, the Seven Sisters coast is not a top spot for sunbathing. For those who love nothing more than a brisk walk with a beautiful view, this California counterpart is perfect. Advertisement For a budget break with easy access to Beachy Head and Seven Sisters Country Park, as well as the lively seafront, the White Park Bay in County Antrim or Greek Islands? 21 The stunning White Park Bay in Northern Ireland is close to the Giant's Causeway where Game of Thrones was filmed, but it looks more like Greece Credit: Alamy 21 Balons Lagoon in Crete is a true beauty spot, but it can be overrun with boats carrying daytrippers Credit: Alamy With a blanket of soft white sand and incredibly clear, blue water, this spectacular sandy beach is in an enviable spot, nestled between headlands on the North Antrim Coast. Its secluded location means that even in the height of summer, there is plenty of room for a Advertisement The beach is also backed by protected, ancient sand dunes that provide a range of rich habitats for bird and animal life, managed by the You may even spot this spectacular spot as the famous backdrop to fictional Stormlands and Dragonstone, from the TV series Game of Thrones. It's so beautiful here, the location is a dead ringer for the idyllic The sweeping beach at Balos Lagoon is one of the most However, in the summer months, an abundance of tourist boats arrive in the bay, meaning it's crowded and sometimes scattered with litter. Advertisement Certainly not worth the trip if you can enjoy Make it even cuter with a stay in a cosy fairy pod cabin, sleeping four for £100 per night at nearby Villefranche Sur Mer or Dartmouth, Devon? 21 Darmouth in Devon is a quintessential British seaside town with postcard-perfect views and excellent fresh seafood Credit: Alamy 21 Villefranche-sur-Mer on the French Riviera is stunning, but very busy in summer, and it's difficult to explore on a budget Credit: Alamy Villefranche-sur-Mer is one of the most charming and colourful towns on the Advertisement Think cute, cobbled streets and crooked, character-filled houses that wouldn't look out of place However, just a short drive and Closer to home, the quintessential English seaside village of For outdoorsy types, there are walking trails straight out to the sea, plus you'll have your pick of some of the If you don't mind being a bit further away, Torquey, the Advertisement
West Australian
4 hours ago
- West Australian
Calls for Government action to tackle crisis level of drug deaths after Penington Institute findings
A planeload of Australians are dying every month to drug overdoses, a new analysis of fatality statistics has shown, sparking calls for more work from governments to tackle the crisis. A new snapshot by the Penington Institute found while overall numbers of drug-induced deaths fell slightly in 2023, there was a growing share of those over 50 dying from unintentional overdoses. The 2272 Australians killed by an overdose in 2023 marked a 10th consecutive year of more than 2000 deaths — roughly the equivalent of a Boeing 737 once a month — and almost twice the national road toll of 1315. Opioids were the most common drug overdosed on, at 43.9 per cent, while benzodiazepines overtook stimulants as the second-placed drug. The snapshot comes ahead of a full report in August, which last year showed WA had recorded the highest per capita rate of overdoses for more than 10 years. Penington Institute chief executive John Ryan said the figures showed how persistent overdoses were in Australia. 'A decade of losing more than 2000 Australians to overdose annually marks a sombre milestone,' he said. 'Governments need to tackle overdose with the same level of energy and enthusiasm used to reduce alcohol and tobacco harm in Australia. We need a comprehensive national overdose response strategy to end the overdose crisis. 'We already know what works to reduce overdose deaths. 'The data tells us that opioids remain the largest contributor to fatal drug overdoses. One relatively cheap and easy solution is giving potential overdose witnesses wider access to naloxone, a life-saving opioid reversal treatment already proven to save lives.' The alarming figures come as a new study will be released on Wednesday showing Generation Xs — those born between 1962 and 1982 — are more likely to die from methamphetamine use. The study, published in the journal Addiction, found the demographic experienced the highest risk of dying from methamphetamine-related causes, such as overdose and cardiovascular disease. While meth deaths have increased fourfold since the start of the century, the rates among younger users declined. Among the reasons for the broader rise were a stigma around drug use, misinformation and limited access to tailored support services. 'Many people who use drugs are ageing, and the support systems in place are not designed with their needs in mind,' study author Oisin Stronach said. 'These deaths are complex, often involving multiple substances. Yet much of our service sector remains geared toward people using opioids, leaving people who use methamphetamines — particularly older people — underserved.' Burnet Senior Research Fellow Dr Amanda Roxburgh said the societal stigma around methamphetamine use was a clear barrier to accessing care. 'Methamphetamine is arguably the most stigmatised drug in Australia. That stigma not only isolates people but also deters them from seeking help,' Dr Roxburgh said. 'If we want to save lives, we need to ensure equitable access to health services for all people who use drugs — regardless of their age or substance of choice.'
