WORLD DRUG REPORT
The annual report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimates that there are 185 million people that use illicit drugs in the world with 150 million of these using cannabis.
Apart from cannabis, illicit drug use in the world is reducing.
The UN report highlights that drugs, terrorism, trafficking in people, illegal arms trade and corruption are linked.
The report recommends treating illicit drug use similar to that of an infectious disease in an epidemic by reducing new and current users.
The report highlights that illicit drug use expands crime, infectious diseases, social dysfunction and reduced personal productivity.
(Source: World Drug Report 2004 released 25 June 2004)
DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA COMMENTS
Recent drug use surveys in Australia indicate that our illicit drug use is increasing unlike the reduction of illicit drug use in the rest of the world.
Australia must reduce the number of current illicit drug users by diverting them into detoxification and rehabilitation.
Australia needs more detoxification and rehabilitation programs that will get current users off drugs quickly and permanently.
Australia needs a national program that actively prevents new users.
Australia must adopt international best practice with a national objective of no more than 3 per cent of young people having used an illicit drug in the past year.
There must be annual surveys of illicit drug use by young Australians with results reported to all parliaments in Australia.
Reducing illicit drug use deprives criminals and terrorists of funds for their activities.
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.
28/2004