ABORIGINAL DRUG USE
The injecting of illicit drugs is causing concern to leaders of the Aboriginal community in Australia.
Risky behaviours such as injecting drugs was mainly affecting young aboriginals and was at epidemic proportions according to the Chairman of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation.
In Australia an estimated 90 per cent of newly acquired Hepatitis C cases are related to injecting illicit drugs.
Ten per cent of newly reported cases of Hepatitis C were aboriginal Australians.
Hepatitis C is the most frequently reported notifiable infection in Australia.
(Source: National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation)
DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA COMMENTS
The proportion of young aboriginal Australian that are being infected with Hepatitis C is above their proportion of the population.
We must reduce the number of young aboriginal Australians that used illicit drugs in the last 12 months to worlds best practice of 3 per cent.
Aboriginal Australians must be provided with detoxification and rehabilitation programs that get them drug free.
Syringe distribution programs are not working and Hepatitis C is at epidemic proportions.
Hepatitis C is at saturation levels amongst injecting drug users.
Harm minimisation policies are not working as the number of illicit drug users are increasing.
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.
33/2004