Drug group alarmed at cannabis survey results

[Oz]

The Victorian Government's peak drug prevention body says heavy cannabis use has become a major concern among young people.

 

A survey of more than 6,000 Victorians between the ages of 16 and 24 found a disturbing trend of heavy cannabis use.

 

Nearly 3 per cent of respondents use the drug daily and up to 5 per cent use it more than once a week.

 

The chairman of the Premiers Drug Prevention Council, Rob Moodie, says heavy use is leading to isolation and depression.

 

"Our levels of cannabis use in Australia are higher than any other English speaking country," he said.

 

Dr Moodie says a new approach is needed.

 

"We just don't seem to be doing very well with it at the moment," he said.

 

"It's the amount of use and the problematic use that's the real problem. That's when it becomes a hard drug, in a sense, when it's being used daily and more frequently.

 

"It really is damaging young people's lives and older people's lives, that's when it's a problem, no matter what title it has. That's when it's really causing harm and that's what we have to focus on - the harmful problematic use."

 

The results of the survey will be discussed at a forum in Melbourne today.

 

Author: ABC News

Date: 15/07/05

Source: ABC News Online

Copyright: 2005 ABC

[Tom]

A little more on the survey.

 

"Drugs snare our young"

 

ALMOST half of young Victorians use cannabis regularly, with one in five going to school or work under the influence.

 

A comprehensive state-wide survey found young people were using cannabis more often and more heavily, with 9 per cent using marijuana daily, 17 per cent smoking cannabis once a week and 42 per cent using the drug once a month.

The use of deadly designer drugs such as ecstasy among Victoria's youth also remains high.

 

Ecstasy -- which is designed to entice young people through brightly coloured pills with names such as orange butterflies and blue DVDS -- is now used regularly by 18 per cent of young people in Victoria, compared with 16 per cent two years ago.

 

The Victorian Youth Drug and Alcohol Survey 2004 found one in 10 ecstasy users took it weekly and one in three used it once a month or more.

 

The survey of 6000 16 to 24-year-olds in Victoria, conducted by the Premier's Drug Prevention Council, also found that:

 

OVERALL the use of illicit drugs had fallen. The amount of young people reporting a once-only experimentation with drugs has dropped 54 per cent to 50 per cent.

 

THE use of illicit drugs appears to peak about 20 to 21 years of age.

 

CANNABIS was the most popular drug, followed by tobacco and ecstasy.

 

Council chairman Dr Rob Moodie said it was a concern that young people were using cannabis more regularly and heavily.

 

"While teenagers can begin by dabbling with drugs, before they know it they are deeply involved with devastating effect," he said. "The outcome of a path down cannabis use is often manifested in under-achievement, isolation and varying levels of depression.

 

"Regular and heavy cannabis users in their 20s and 30s can struggle to maintain friendships, participate in sport and other social activities and complete their work and school commitments."

 

The survey also found that 65 per cent of young people said curiosity was the most frequent reason for first trying illicit drugs, followed by peer pressure at 44 per cent.

 

Pubs and clubs were the most popular places to take ecstasy at 55 per cent and amphetamines at 50 per cent.

 

Dr Moodie said one positive result was the increase in young people who opposed drug use: 61 per cent said it was wrong or very wrong to use cannabis and 84 per cent were against the use of other drugs such as ecstasy, speed and LSD.

 

Author:Tanya Giles

Date:15jul05

Source:Herald and Weekly Times

Copyright:© Herald and Weekly Times