THE REAL COST OF ILLICIT DRUGS
The cost of illicit drugs to the Australian community has been estimated in excess of $6000 million every year.
Both domestic and international drugs were used in the costed harms.
Using heroin, cocaine, amphetamines and cannabis harms Australia.
Key harms included death, pain, suffering, crime, law enforcement, health, road accidents, violence, law enforcement, hospital admissions, lost productivity and treatment.
Cannabis is the most harmful illicit drug in Australia.
Opioids are the most destructive class of illicit drug in Australia.
In the five years from 1998/9 to 2002/3 the Australian Federal Police saved the Australian community $3100 million in harm by just disrupting illicit drug imports.
(Source: Australian Federal Police magazine Platypus October 2004)
DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA COMMENTS
AUSTRALIAS KEY DRUG POLICY OBJECTIVE MUST BE TO REDUCE THE POOL OF USERS OF ILLICIT DRUGS.
IF ONLY A FRACTION OF THE $6000 MILLION COST OF ILLICIT DRUGS WAS USED FOR DETOXIFICATION AND REHABILITATION THEN THE POOL OF USERS COULD BE CUT BY 80 PER CENT TO SIMILAR LEVELS AS IN SWEDEN.
AUSTRALIA MUST USE ITS COURTS TO DIVERT USERS INTO 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.
47/2004