ACT backs supervised drug use for addicts

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ACT backs supervised drug use for addicts

BY DANIELLE CRONIN, HEALTH REPORTER

30/08/2008 12:57:00 PM

Canberra Times

<http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/act-backs-supervised-drug-use-for-addicts/1258337.aspx>

 

Canberrans are the strongest supporters of supervised injecting rooms, providing heroin on prescription and allowing the medicinal use of marijuana, a new report reveals. The findings are from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare's study on drug use in all states and territories.

 

More than 23,000 Australians, aged 12 or older, were asked last year about their drug-taking behaviour as well as their beliefs and attitudes.

 

Almost 73 per cent of ACT residents supported the medicinal use of marijuana and about 56 per cent were in favour of supervised injecting rooms.

 

More than 38 per cent would back a trial where drug users received heroin on prescription.

 

These were the highest levels of support in the country.

 

About 9 per cent had recently used cannabis and less than 5 per cent had taken another illicit drug, which was on par with the national average.

 

The ACT had the lowest level of tobacco use only 14.7 per cent of residents were daily smokers.

 

Most backed measures to crackdown on smoking, including bans in workplaces, pubs and clubs, tougher penalties for retailers who sold cigarettes to minors and higher taxes on tobacco.

 

Only one in four supported increasing the price of alcohol and most were against raising the legal drinking age, reducing the number of liquor outlets and imposing new restrictions on trading hours for pubs and clubs.

 

But most respondents backed increasing the number of ''dry'' zones and public events, serving only low-alcohol drinks at sporting events and strengthening penalties for drink driving.

 

About 48 per cent were weekly drinkers which was the highest in the country but less than 7 per cent drank alcohol daily.

 

About one in 10 consumed alcohol at risky or high risk levels, which was close to the national average.

 

Health Minister Katy Gallagher welcomed the report.

 

''[it] shows across a range of measures, the ACT Government's initiatives are reducing the use of tobacco, illicit drugs and alcohol,'' she said.

 

''While the rate of those 14 years and older reporting to be drinking at risky or at high risk levels is up both locally and nationally from 2004, it is pleasing that the ACT rate however continues to remain lower than the national rate.

 

''The ACT Department of Justice and Community recently released a public discussion paper on liquor licensing laws that has flagged a number of areas to address problematic rates of or behaviours relating to risky drinking.

 

''They include sales to intoxicated persons, mandatory responsible service of alcohol training for all staff involved in the service of alcohol, stronger infringement notices for licensee breaches.''