AUSTRALIAN CRIME COMMISSION REPORT ON ECSTASY
The United Nations Office of Drug Control reports that Australia has the highest consumption of ECSTASY per capita in the world.
Almost one in ten Australian 18 and 19 year olds have used ECSTASY in the last 12 months.
Availability and price of ECSTASY has remained steady.
Two out of three ECSTASY users typically use more than one ECSTASY tablet at a time.
Most ECSTASY is imported by international criminals but shipments are now smaller and more frequent to reduce the risk of detection.
(Source: Illicit Drug Data Report 2004-05, Australian Crime Commission April, 2006)
DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA COMMENTS-
The Australian Crime Commission coordinates policing throughout Australia with the support of state and territory police commissioners.
Whilst more ECSTASY has been intercepted by police their efforts are being undermined by the high demand by young people.
ECSTASY use is mainly undertaken in clubs, pubs and parties where young people congregate.
ECSTASY use funds criminals so that large amounts of money are flowing into the hands of organized criminals.
ECSTASY use causes hallucinations, blurred vision, increased heart rate and blood pressure, anger, depression, anxiety, convulsions and destroys neurons in the brain.
ECSTASY users need more drug detoxification and rehabilitation programs to substantially reduce demand and the number of users.
More detoxification & rehabilitation that gets illicit drug users drug free.
Court ordered and supervised detoxification & rehabilitation.
Less illicit drug users, drug pushers and drug related crimes.
21/2006