International - Australia

"The National Drug Strategy (NDS), formerly the National Campaign Against Drug Abuse, was initiated in 1985 following a Special Premiers' Conference. From its inception the Strategy recognised the importance of a comprehensive, integrated approach to the harmful use of licit and illicit drugs and other substances. The aim is to achieve a balance between demand-reduction and supply-reduction measures to minimise the harmful effects of drugs in Australian society. The tangible social costs of drug use in Australia were estimated to be $18.3 billion or approximately 5.5% of gross domestic product in 1998–99 (Collins & Lapsley 2002)."

"The National Drug Strategy (NDS), formerly the National Campaign Against Drug Abuse, was initiated in 1985 following a Special Premiers' Conference. From its inception the Strategy recognised the importance of a comprehensive, integrated approach to the harmful use of licit and illicit drugs and other substances. The aim is to achieve a balance between demand-reduction and supply-reduction measures to minimise the harmful effects of drugs in Australian society. The tangible social costs of drug use in Australia were estimated to be $18.3 billion or approximately 5.5% of gross domestic product in 1998–99 (Collins & Lapsley 2002)."

"Based on the results of the 2004 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS), 17% of the Australian population aged 14 years and over were daily smokers. Approximately one in four Australians (26%) were ex-smokers and just over half the population (53%) had never smoked. "Overall, men were more likely than women to be smokers. In 2004, 19% of males were daily smokers, while 16% of females were daily smokers. People aged 20–29 years of age had the highest smoking rates, with 24% of this age group smoking daily. "Smoking rates declined over the period 1991 to 2004. "During the 2003–04 financial year, the Australian Government collected over $5.6 billion in revenue from the importation and sale of tobacco products in Australia."

"Based on the results of the 2004 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS), 17% of the Australian population aged 14 years and over were daily smokers. Approximately one in four Australians (26%) were ex-smokers and just over half the population (53%) had never smoked. "Overall, men were more likely than women to be smokers. In 2004, 19% of males were daily smokers, while 16% of females were daily smokers. People aged 20–29 years of age had the highest smoking rates, with 24% of this age group smoking daily. "Smoking rates declined over the period 1991 to 2004. "During the 2003–04 financial year, the Australian Government collected over $5.6 billion in revenue from the importation and sale of tobacco products in Australia."

"In 2004, around 84% of the population aged 14 years and over had consumed at least one full serve of alcohol in the last 12 months. People were most likely to drink either weekly (41%) or less than weekly (34%), and 9% of Australians consumed alcohol on a daily basis. People aged 60 years and over recorded the highest prevalence of daily drinking (17%). "Overall, males were more likely to consume alcohol daily (12%) or weekly (48%) compared with females (6% and 35%). "The pattern of alcohol consumption by the Australian population has remained relatively unchanged over the period 1991 to 2004. "Around one in three people (35%) aged 14 years and over consumed alcohol in a way that put themselves at increased risk of alcohol-related harm in the short term on at least one occasion in the last 12 months. One in ten Australians consumed alcohol at levels that are considered risky or high risk for alcohol-related harm in the long term."

"In 2004, around 84% of the population aged 14 years and over had consumed at least one full serve of alcohol in the last 12 months. People were most likely to drink either weekly (41%) or less than weekly (34%), and 9% of Australians consumed alcohol on a daily basis. People aged 60 years and over recorded the highest prevalence of daily drinking (17%). "Overall, males were more likely to consume alcohol daily (12%) or weekly (48%) compared with females (6% and 35%). "The pattern of alcohol consumption by the Australian population has remained relatively unchanged over the period 1991 to 2004. "Around one in three people (35%) aged 14 years and over consumed alcohol in a way that put themselves at increased risk of alcohol-related harm in the short term on at least one occasion in the last 12 months. One in ten Australians consumed alcohol at levels that are considered risky or high risk for alcohol-related harm in the long term."

"Based on responses to the 2004 NDSHS, 38% of Australians aged 14 years and over had used any illicit drug at least once in their lifetime, and 15% had used any illicit drug at least once in the last 12 months. "Marijuana/cannabis was the most common illicit drug used, with one in three persons having used it least once in their lifetime and 11% of the population having used it in the previous 12 months. "Recent illicit drug use was most prevalent among persons aged between 18 and 29 years in 2004, with almost one in three people (31%) in this age bracket having used at least one illicit drug in the last 12 months. "The proportion of the population who had used any illicit drug in the last 12 months fluctuated between 1991 and 2004, reaching a similar level in 2004 (15%) to the prevalence in 1993 (14%). While the proportion of people who had recently used marijuana/cannabis (11%) was the lowest seen in the 13-year period, the proportion using ecstasy (3%) was the highest prevalence for that substance in the same period. "Ecstasy and related drugs were commonly used by 12–24-year-old Australians in 2004. The most prevalent drugs from this group were ecstasy and meth/amphetamines, with 7% of persons in this age group having used each substance in the last 12 months. In particular, the highest recent use of ecstasy (13%) and meth/amphetamines (11%) were reported by 20–24-year-olds."

"Based on responses to the 2004 NDSHS, 38% of Australians aged 14 years and over had used any illicit drug at least once in their lifetime, and 15% had used any illicit drug at least once in the last 12 months. "Marijuana/cannabis was the most common illicit drug used, with one in three persons having used it least once in their lifetime and 11% of the population having used it in the previous 12 months. "Recent illicit drug use was most prevalent among persons aged between 18 and 29 years in 2004, with almost one in three people (31%) in this age bracket having used at least one illicit drug in the last 12 months. "The proportion of the population who had used any illicit drug in the last 12 months fluctuated between 1991 and 2004, reaching a similar level in 2004 (15%) to the prevalence in 1993 (14%). While the proportion of people who had recently used marijuana/cannabis (11%) was the lowest seen in the 13-year period, the proportion using ecstasy (3%) was the highest prevalence for that substance in the same period. "Ecstasy and related drugs were commonly used by 12–24-year-old Australians in 2004. The most prevalent drugs from this group were ecstasy and meth/amphetamines, with 7% of persons in this age group having used each substance in the last 12 months. In particular, the highest recent use of ecstasy (13%) and meth/amphetamines (11%) were reported by 20–24-year-olds."

"The decline in smoking rates in Australia over the past three decades has resulted in Australia being ranked lowest of all countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in terms of the prevalence of daily smoking. "In 2002, Australia ranked 23rd highest in the world in terms of per capita consumption of alcohol, with approximately 7 litres equivalent of pure alcohol consumed per person. This corresponded to an annual per capita consumption of approximately 92 litres of beer, 21 litres of wine and 1 litre of pure alcohol from spirits."

"The decline in smoking rates in Australia over the past three decades has resulted in Australia being ranked lowest of all countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in terms of the prevalence of daily smoking. "In 2002, Australia ranked 23rd highest in the world in terms of per capita consumption of alcohol, with approximately 7 litres equivalent of pure alcohol consumed per person. This corresponded to an annual per capita consumption of approximately 92 litres of beer, 21 litres of wine and 1 litre of pure alcohol from spirits."

"According to the annual Needle and Syringe Program (NSP) Survey, hepatitis C prevalence among people attending needle and syringe programs remained high over the period 1997 to 2003, with 57% of males and 61% of females testing positive to the hepatitis C virus antibody in 2003."

"According to the annual Needle and Syringe Program (NSP) Survey, hepatitis C prevalence among people attending needle and syringe programs remained high over the period 1997 to 2003, with 57% of males and 61% of females testing positive to the hepatitis C virus antibody in 2003."

"High levels of ATS (Amphetamine-Type Stimulants) abuse in the Oceania region are mainly found in Australia, which reported a prevalence rate for amphetamines of 3.6% in 1998. Such high figures do point to high levels of consumption; but they may also have to do with the specific social and legal context in which studies take place. This results in the case of Australia (and some other countries with a long tradition of social research) in more readiness to admit to drug use, and thus far less under-reporting than in countries where drug users fear that such information could be used against them."

"High levels of ATS (Amphetamine-Type Stimulants) abuse in the Oceania region are mainly found in Australia, which reported a prevalence rate for amphetamines of 3.6% in 1998. Such high figures do point to high levels of consumption; but they may also have to do with the specific social and legal context in which studies take place. This results in the case of Australia (and some other countries with a long tradition of social research) in more readiness to admit to drug use, and thus far less under-reporting than in countries where drug users fear that such information could be used against them."

"An extensive network of needle and syringe programs (NSPs) has been established in Australia; in the financial year 1994-95, around 700 NSPs distributed six million syringes nationally and an additional four million were distributed through pharmacies. Early and vigorous implementation of harm reduction measures, such as methadone maintenance, peer-based education and NSPs, has successfully maintained low seroprevalence of HIV infection among people who inject drugs in Australia."

"An extensive network of needle and syringe programs (NSPs) has been established in Australia; in the financial year 1994-95, around 700 NSPs distributed six million syringes nationally and an additional four million were distributed through pharmacies. Early and vigorous implementation of harm reduction measures, such as methadone maintenance, peer-based education and NSPs, has successfully maintained low seroprevalence of HIV infection among people who inject drugs in Australia."

"Nuns who run one of Australia's best known hospitals are to operate the country's first legal and medically supervised heroin injecting room after a radical overhaul of the drug laws in New South Wales. The 18 month trial will be administered by the Sisters of Charity, who also run Sydney's inner city St Vincent's Hospital. An estimated 50 000 visits a year by drug users are expected at the centre, which will be staffed by a medical supervisor, a registered nurse, and security staff. The controversial plan will include the provision of clean needles and syringes; users must supply their own drugs."

"Nuns who run one of Australia's best known hospitals are to operate the country's first legal and medically supervised heroin injecting room after a radical overhaul of the drug laws in New South Wales. The 18 month trial will be administered by the Sisters of Charity, who also run Sydney's inner city St Vincent's Hospital. An estimated 50 000 visits a year by drug users are expected at the centre, which will be staffed by a medical supervisor, a registered nurse, and security staff. The controversial plan will include the provision of clean needles and syringes; users must supply their own drugs."

"Marijuana/cannabis accounted for 72% of illicit drug arrests in 2003–04, compared with 12% of arrests related to amphetamine-type stimulants. "In 2004, one in ten sentenced prisoners was imprisoned for drug-related offences. The most common drug-related offence for which people were imprisoned was dealing/trafficking drugs. "Results based on the 2003 Drug Use Careers of Offenders (DUCO) study show that twothirds of female sentenced prisoners used an illicit drug in the 6 months prior to their arrest, while around 27% were classified in the study as dependent on alcohol and 55% were classified as dependent on drugs. Around two-thirds of female prisoners responding to the 2003 DUCO survey who were classified in the study as alcohol and/or drug dependent reported that they 'often' experienced a mental health condition while growing up."

"Marijuana/cannabis accounted for 72% of illicit drug arrests in 2003–04, compared with 12% of arrests related to amphetamine-type stimulants. "In 2004, one in ten sentenced prisoners was imprisoned for drug-related offences. The most common drug-related offence for which people were imprisoned was dealing/trafficking drugs. "Results based on the 2003 Drug Use Careers of Offenders (DUCO) study show that twothirds of female sentenced prisoners used an illicit drug in the 6 months prior to their arrest, while around 27% were classified in the study as dependent on alcohol and 55% were classified as dependent on drugs. Around two-thirds of female prisoners responding to the 2003 DUCO survey who were classified in the study as alcohol and/or drug dependent reported that they 'often' experienced a mental health condition while growing up."