Pubdate: Wed, 20 Dec 2000
Source: Australian, The (Australia)
Copyright: News Limited 2000
Contact:  http://www.theaustralian.com.au/
Author: Sarah Stock

WEST SCORES WORST ON ILLICIT DRUG USE

WESTERN Australia is the nation's illicit drug centre, especially for 
people under 30, according to a national report on drug use.  A greater 
percentage of 20- to 29-year-olds in the state has experimented with heroin 
and ecstasy than elsewhere in the nation. And Western Australia rates 
second for experimentation with marijuana and amphetamines.

It also has the highest rate of recent use of heroin, ecstasy and 
amphetamines over the past year for people under 30. For heroin, the state 
records a usage rate double that of the rest of the nation.

The 1998 National Drug Strategy Household Survey, by the Australian 
Institute of Health and Welfare, investigated the drug habits of more than 
10,000 people.

While it also confirms worrying trends in the Northern Territory, drug 
experts say the West Australian figures are the most puzzling.

National Drug Research Institute deputy director Wendy Loxley said Western 
Australia had no history of being worse than any other state.

She said the survey directly contradicted results of a study she was 
undertaking of the drug habits of detainees. Her study pointed to high 
amphetamines use in Western Australia, but lower heroin use than in 
Queensland and NSW.

"When a survey turns up results like this, you have to wonder whether the 
sample size was comprehensive enough to produce a reliable result," 
Professor Loxley said.

But West Australian Drug Abuse Strategy Office executive director Terry 
Murphy said the results were not surprising and that they confirmed a trend 
the Government had detected a few years ago.

"It is a small state that is very vigorous and very affluent which has 
encouraged high levels of alcohol use that have now fed into drug habits," 
Mr Murphy said.

"The WA Government has recognised the problem and has doubled its drugs 
expenditure since 1996-97."
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