DRUG DEATHS AFFECT MALES MOST
Males are most likely to die from drug induced deaths in Australia according to the latest statistics.
Of the 941 drug induced deaths in Australia in 2003, males comprised 594 or 63 per cent of the deaths.
More than six out of ten male drug induced deaths were caused accidentally.
One in four drug-induced deaths of males were because of suicide.
Three in four of the males that died by drug induced means were in the prime of life being under 45 years of age.
Illicit drugs like heroin, cocaine, opioids, cannabis and other narcotics were the main drugs that caused death.
(Source: Australia Bureau of Statistics, Deaths Collection, Table 1, Drug Induced Deaths by Sex, 2003)
DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA COMMENTS
Males are not only bearing the brunt of drug-induced deaths but the long-term health impacts of illicit drug use.
There are significant long-term health impacts for the users and our community from using illicit drug like heroin, opioids, narcotics, cocaine and cannabis.
Drug maintenance programs do not work in averting deaths for males in Australia.
Our Council supports the International Narcotics Control Board that advocates illicit drug users should not be jailed but given detoxification then rehabilitation to get them drug free.
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.
6/2005