Pubdate: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Australia Web) Copyright: 2001 Australian Broadcasting Corporation Contact: http://www.abc.net.au/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/34 REPORT REVEALS GAPS IN NATI0NAL DRUG USE DATA A new report has identified a number of gaps in the national data available on the use of illicit drugs. The Australian Bureau of Statistics publication reports on a range of national data sources, with the aim of helping people access information. The report found data was not readily available on all the costs to governments relating to illicit drug use. Researcher Lynne Peterson says she also found little information about the effects of a person's use of illicit drugs on family and community. "I was trying to find data on such things as the association between illicit drug use and child neglect or marriage breakdown, homelessness, these issues we assume are associated but I could find very little objective national data on the subject," she said. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom