TEENAGE ILLICIT DRUG USE COMPARISON
AUSTRALIA
28% of Australian teenagers between 14 and 19 had used an illicit drug in the previous year according to the 2001 National Drug Strategy Survey.
82% of the teenagers claimed curiosity and 55% claimed peer pressure at the reasons for trying an illicit drug.
(Source: “Road to Recovery” Committee of House of Rep. August 2003)
SWEDEN
In Sweden only 7% of year 9 school students (between 14 and 15) in 2003 had used an illicit drug in the last year.
(Source: Swedish National Police Board briefing August 2003)
In Sweden in 1999 only 9% of year 9 school boys and only 7% of year 9 school girls had tried drugs “at some time”.
60% of the Swedish year 9 school students had only tried cannabis.
(Source: Drogutvecklingen I Sverige report 2000)
Australia has a substantial level of teenage drug use compared to Sweden.
Sweden understands that the large majority of new illicit drug use commences by age 20 so they have specifically targetted Swedish teenagers with information about the dangers of all illicit drugs.
Australia needs to follow Sweden’s policies to get our drug use down.
More detoxification & rehabilitation that get illicit users drug free.
Court ordered and supervised detoxification & rehabilitation programs.
Less illicit drug users
Less drug pushers and drug related crimes.
DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA Inc.
Our web site at www.daca.org.au has more information about illicit drugs.
7/2003