At least 50 Australians aged as young as 18 were killed by lethal strokes after taking methamphetamines, MDMA or other psychostimulant drugs.

Almost one in five deadly strokes among 15-44 year-olds were linked to the drugs, found a detailed analysis of national coronial records between 2009 and 2016.

MDMA and other psychostimulant use is rising among young Australians Credit:Viki Yemettas

In the vast majority of the deaths (at least 37 people) had taken a psychostimulant immediately before their stroke, according to researchers at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC).

Methamphetamine was overwhelmingly implicated, but less than half of meth-linked stroke deaths involved high concentrations of the drug, suggesting even low doses could trigger a deadly stroke.