Regular drug use polls are essential
Australia must introduce regular surveys of illicit drug use as a policy.
These surveys must be undertaken annually.
The surveys should cover all states and territories of Australia.
A Commonwealth body on behalf of all governments in Australia should undertake these surveys.
They should include all age groups and particularly teenage illicit drug use.
They should identify specific illicit drug used by users.
The surveys should seek specific information on illicit drug use in the past twelve months and also within the lifetime of the user.
The survey should comprehensively cover the background of users to ascertain factors relating to those most likely to use illicit drugs.
The surveys should be consistent over time in order to ascertain trends in illicit drug use.
The results of the surveys and the trend analysis should be promptly reported to every federal, state and territory parliament in Australia.
DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL COMMENTS-
In order to reduce Australia's increasing illicit drug use the community needs to have accurate and timely information.
Illicit drug use information and trends are used overseas to monitor use because their decision makers WANT TO KNOW.
Illicit drugs are illegal because of the scientifically proven harm to users and the burdens to our community and this harm MUST be eliminated.
THE DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA SUPPORTS-
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.
37/2004
