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Media release From the Premier’s Drug Prevention Council
FEWER NON-DRUG TAKERS CURIOUS ABOUT EXPERIMENTING
New research has revealed the percentage of young Victorians who do not take illicit drugs and have no interest in trying them has increased by more than two-thirds in the space of a year.
The latest Victorian Youth Alcohol and Drug Survey, commissioned by the Premier’s Drug Prevention Council (PDPC), found 34 per cent of young Victorians who don’t take illicit drugs say they have no interest in starting, up from 20 per cent the year before.
The Survey, conducted in 2003, involved the questioning of more than 6000 young people, aged between 16 and 24 years.
The Chair of the PDPC, Rob Moodie, said the key reasons cited for not trying drugs are concern for health, drug education at school and advertising.
“This is encouraging because it shows that the PDPC’s considerable efforts in highlighting a prevention message is working among some groups of young people,” Mr Moodie said.
But, Dr Moodie also warned that the Survey contained disturbing data about increasing use of certain drugs, including cannabis and ecstasy.
“It shows that authorities have their work cut out for them dealing with young Victorians taking drugs” said Dr Moodie.
“Cannabis is the most widely and frequently used illicit drug with over half of all young people admitting to using it. This is a disturbing trend because we know that early and frequent cannabis use can lead to problematic use later on.
“Another disturbing trend is the increased use of ecstasy and other designer drugs. Almost one in five young people in the 2003 survey said they had used ecstasy. This compares with the one in ten who admitted to using ecstasy in the same age group of the Victorian portion of the 1998 National Drug Strategy Household Survey.
“Similarly, amphetamine use has increased among young people in the last five years, from approximately 13 per cent in the 1998 survey to 16 per cent of those questioned in 2003.
“Two-thirds of those surveyed said ‘curiosity’ influenced their decision to first try illicit drugs although looking for excitement was a factor for one-fifth of young people.
He said the survey found a strong association between alcohol use and illicit drug use.
“There’s no doubt that the more that young people over-indulge in drinking, the more likely they are to use illicit drugs.
“Heavy drinking does not necessarily lead to drug taking. However, whatever leads some young people to very heavy drinking sessions is also likely to predispose them to drug taking,” he said.
The Bracks Government funds the Premier’s Drug Prevention Council to advise the government on drug prevention and to promote prevention in the broader community.
“We have to ensure that not only are young people educated and informed about drug use but that they’re highly engaged in school, the arts, sport and other recreational pursuits” Dr Moodie emphasised.
“We know that being involved in activities and the community helps people feel connected. This makes them less inclined to turn to drugs.”
“The Premier’s Drug Prevention Council supports the call for a ‘whole of community’ response in the recent enquiry into amphetamines and party drugs by the Drugs and Crime Prevention Committee.
“We need a response that all of the community can contribute to and participate in” he said.
The Victorian survey also reveals that the typical 18 to 21 year old now thinks cannabis is a more dangerous drug than heroin. “This provides further evidence that our prevention and community awareness campaigns are meeting their mark,” said Dr Moodie.
“The Council wants to build on the Government’s 2002 cannabis campaign which had a huge response from young people, particularly young men. We think there are lessons to be learnt from the TAC advertisements. Our drug messages must be ongoing if they are to have an impact.”
VYADS ILLICIT DRUGS REPORT: KEY FINDINGS
§ A greater proportion of young people who have not used illicit drugs state they are just not interested (34 per cent compared with 20 per cent in 2002). Concern for health was the most frequently cited reason with drug education at school and advertising (on TV or elsewhere) also reported as factors in young people’s decision not to use drugs.
§ The levels of use of illicit drugs reported in the 2003 survey have increased compared to the 2002 VYADS, up from 51 per cent to 54 per cent of all young people.
§ Cannabis is the most frequently and most widely used illicit drug for young people. Use of cannabis in the last 12 months has increased from 28 per cent in 2002 to 31 per cent in 2003, with lifetime use for all young people increasing from 48 per cent to 53 per cent.
§ The major difference between the 2002 and 2003 survey results amongst 18-21 year olds is the swing away from their perception that heroin is more of a problem drug than cannabis.
§ Use of ecstasy or other designer drugs in the last 12 months has increased from 10 per cent to 12 per cent, with an increase from 16 per cent to 19 per cent for lifetime use. This increase in recent and lifetime use is not evident amongst the 16-17 year olds but is significant in the 18-24 year old age group.
§ Use of amphetamines has increased in the last 12 months from 8 per cent to 10 per cent, with an increase from 14 per cent to 16 per cent in lifetime use. As with ecstasy, there is no increase amongst 16-17 year olds, but significantly higher lifetime and recent use is recorded in the 18-24 year old age group.
§ ‘Curiosity’ was the most frequently mentioned reason for first using an illicit drug (68 per cent). Slightly fewer young people (39 per cent) reported first using an illicit drug because it was offered by a friend than was the case in 2002 (45 per cent).
§ Males are more likely than females to engage in anti-social behaviour while under the influence of an illicit drug. Amongst recent drug users, 28 per cent of males have driven a motor vehicle and 25 per cent have gone to work or school, compared with 17 per cent and 18 per cent respectively of females.
§ Other than driving a motor vehicle, those 16–17 year olds who have used drugs tend to report more anti-social behaviours than older age groups. These findings contrast with those for alcohol, suggesting that 16 and 17 year olds have particular problems managing their behaviour while under the influence of drugs.
§ Consistent with the 2002 surveys, drug taking is more prevalent amongst those in more advantaged socio-economic areas (as defined by the SEIFA classification).
§ Both lifetime and recent use of illicit drugs are higher among males than females; and both increase with age. Lifetime and recent use are also higher among people on higher incomes compared to those earning less. Commensurate with these age and income factors, the extent of drug taking varies with occupational status, being lowest among those at school, and rising among those in tertiary study and then still further among those in part-time or full-time work.
§ The 2003 survey confirms the effect of some risk and protection factors in relation to drug taking, which have been developed in other research. Family conflict is found to increase the risk of drug taking behaviour, as do positive attitudes towards drugs and alcohol. Positive social involvement at school can be a factor reducing the likelihood of using drugs.
The full report is available on the DrugInfo Clearinghouse website from today druginfo.adf.org.au
FEWER NON-DRUG TAKERS CURIOUS ABOUT EXPERIMENTING
New research has revealed the percentage of young Victorians who do not take illicit drugs and have no interest in trying them has increased by more than two-thirds in the space of a year.
The latest Victorian Youth Alcohol and Drug Survey, commissioned by the Premier’s Drug Prevention Council (PDPC), found 34 per cent of young Victorians who don’t take illicit drugs say they have no interest in starting, up from 20 per cent the year before.
The Survey, conducted in 2003, involved the questioning of more than 6000 young people, aged between 16 and 24 years.
The Chair of the PDPC, Rob Moodie, said the key reasons cited for not trying drugs are concern for health, drug education at school and advertising.
“This is encouraging because it shows that the PDPC’s considerable efforts in highlighting a prevention message is working among some groups of young people,” Mr Moodie said.
But, Dr Moodie also warned that the Survey contained disturbing data about increasing use of certain drugs, including cannabis and ecstasy.
“It shows that authorities have their work cut out for them dealing with young Victorians taking drugs” said Dr Moodie.
“Cannabis is the most widely and frequently used illicit drug with over half of all young people admitting to using it. This is a disturbing trend because we know that early and frequent cannabis use can lead to problematic use later on.
“Another disturbing trend is the increased use of ecstasy and other designer drugs. Almost one in five young people in the 2003 survey said they had used ecstasy. This compares with the one in ten who admitted to using ecstasy in the same age group of the Victorian portion of the 1998 National Drug Strategy Household Survey.
“Similarly, amphetamine use has increased among young people in the last five years, from approximately 13 per cent in the 1998 survey to 16 per cent of those questioned in 2003.
“Two-thirds of those surveyed said ‘curiosity’ influenced their decision to first try illicit drugs although looking for excitement was a factor for one-fifth of young people.
He said the survey found a strong association between alcohol use and illicit drug use.
“There’s no doubt that the more that young people over-indulge in drinking, the more likely they are to use illicit drugs.
“Heavy drinking does not necessarily lead to drug taking. However, whatever leads some young people to very heavy drinking sessions is also likely to predispose them to drug taking,” he said.
The Bracks Government funds the Premier’s Drug Prevention Council to advise the government on drug prevention and to promote prevention in the broader community.
“We have to ensure that not only are young people educated and informed about drug use but that they’re highly engaged in school, the arts, sport and other recreational pursuits” Dr Moodie emphasised.
“We know that being involved in activities and the community helps people feel connected. This makes them less inclined to turn to drugs.”
“The Premier’s Drug Prevention Council supports the call for a ‘whole of community’ response in the recent enquiry into amphetamines and party drugs by the Drugs and Crime Prevention Committee.
“We need a response that all of the community can contribute to and participate in” he said.
The Victorian survey also reveals that the typical 18 to 21 year old now thinks cannabis is a more dangerous drug than heroin. “This provides further evidence that our prevention and community awareness campaigns are meeting their mark,” said Dr Moodie.
“The Council wants to build on the Government’s 2002 cannabis campaign which had a huge response from young people, particularly young men. We think there are lessons to be learnt from the TAC advertisements. Our drug messages must be ongoing if they are to have an impact.”
VYADS ILLICIT DRUGS REPORT: KEY FINDINGS
§ A greater proportion of young people who have not used illicit drugs state they are just not interested (34 per cent compared with 20 per cent in 2002). Concern for health was the most frequently cited reason with drug education at school and advertising (on TV or elsewhere) also reported as factors in young people’s decision not to use drugs.
§ The levels of use of illicit drugs reported in the 2003 survey have increased compared to the 2002 VYADS, up from 51 per cent to 54 per cent of all young people.
§ Cannabis is the most frequently and most widely used illicit drug for young people. Use of cannabis in the last 12 months has increased from 28 per cent in 2002 to 31 per cent in 2003, with lifetime use for all young people increasing from 48 per cent to 53 per cent.
§ The major difference between the 2002 and 2003 survey results amongst 18-21 year olds is the swing away from their perception that heroin is more of a problem drug than cannabis.
§ Use of ecstasy or other designer drugs in the last 12 months has increased from 10 per cent to 12 per cent, with an increase from 16 per cent to 19 per cent for lifetime use. This increase in recent and lifetime use is not evident amongst the 16-17 year olds but is significant in the 18-24 year old age group.
§ Use of amphetamines has increased in the last 12 months from 8 per cent to 10 per cent, with an increase from 14 per cent to 16 per cent in lifetime use. As with ecstasy, there is no increase amongst 16-17 year olds, but significantly higher lifetime and recent use is recorded in the 18-24 year old age group.
§ ‘Curiosity’ was the most frequently mentioned reason for first using an illicit drug (68 per cent). Slightly fewer young people (39 per cent) reported first using an illicit drug because it was offered by a friend than was the case in 2002 (45 per cent).
§ Males are more likely than females to engage in anti-social behaviour while under the influence of an illicit drug. Amongst recent drug users, 28 per cent of males have driven a motor vehicle and 25 per cent have gone to work or school, compared with 17 per cent and 18 per cent respectively of females.
§ Other than driving a motor vehicle, those 16–17 year olds who have used drugs tend to report more anti-social behaviours than older age groups. These findings contrast with those for alcohol, suggesting that 16 and 17 year olds have particular problems managing their behaviour while under the influence of drugs.
§ Consistent with the 2002 surveys, drug taking is more prevalent amongst those in more advantaged socio-economic areas (as defined by the SEIFA classification).
§ Both lifetime and recent use of illicit drugs are higher among males than females; and both increase with age. Lifetime and recent use are also higher among people on higher incomes compared to those earning less. Commensurate with these age and income factors, the extent of drug taking varies with occupational status, being lowest among those at school, and rising among those in tertiary study and then still further among those in part-time or full-time work.
§ The 2003 survey confirms the effect of some risk and protection factors in relation to drug taking, which have been developed in other research. Family conflict is found to increase the risk of drug taking behaviour, as do positive attitudes towards drugs and alcohol. Positive social involvement at school can be a factor reducing the likelihood of using drugs.
The full report is available on the DrugInfo Clearinghouse website from today druginfo.adf.org.au
