Drug abuse soars
Neil Wilson and Patrick O'Neil
6 Oct 2004
YOUNG Victorians are ignoring the tough-on-drugs message: dope and ecstasy use is soaring.
A Melbourne survey found two in three young adults used cannabis in the past 12 months, and one in three used ecstasy or other drugs.
The disturbing results come as the second phase of the Federal Government's $27 million anti-drug campaign remains frozen because of the election.
The Australian National Council on Drugs, led by Major Brian Watters, fears the campaign could be scrapped if there is a change of government. But a fellow expert said the anti-drug message was not working anyway.
Australian Drug Foundation youth drug studies director Cameron Duff said some bureaucrats had lost faith in the campaign.
"The Government knows it doesn't work but they keep putting money into it," said Dr Duff. "It has the political virtue so the parents and community can see that the government is doing something.
"But government insiders will tell you to your face -- it doesn't work."
The Prime Minster launched the Tough on Drugs program in 1997. The most recent addition was TV advertising (2001-03) showing a drug user in a body bag and parents discussing drugs with their children.
A pamphlet entitled Tough on Drugs was sent to parents, offering advice on talking to their children about drugs.
The ADF survey of 100 people between 18 and 30, mainly students, was taken in the city in late winter.
It found 63 per cent had tried cannabis in the previous 12 months, and 33 per cent had used ecstasy or other illicit substances. A similar study in 2003 found only 31 per cent had used cannabis in the previous 12 months and just 12 per cent had used ecstasy or other drugs.
The latest survey, taken at Federation Square and the State Library, showed 79 per cent of young adults would not think worse of someone who had used cannabis.
And 61 per cent thought cannabis use tolerable or acceptable, compared with 19 per cent who regarded it as irresponsible, and only 7 per cent who said it was wrong.
Of other drugs, 78 per cent saw them as prevalent and 49 per cent found their use wrong or irresponsible, but 36 per cent accepted it.
A separate state survey of Melbourne University students in June showed 90 per cent of drug users relied on friends for their primary drug information; 50 per cent also used non-government websites.
Dr Duff said the Federal Government had lost the trust of many people in their early 20s, who were confident they made well-informed decisions about the use of drugs.
The ADF survey was consistent with trends showing a majority had smoked cannabis before 20, but then exposure to ecstasy, speed and cocaine climbed dramatically.
"We face the problem of being utterly ignored by giving a preventative message," Dr Duff said. "We're trying to compete against these pro-drug websites and the problem is a lot of that material is factually based. They don't trust the Government any more because there's a view the Government has exaggerated the risks.
"As soon as they have a first puff of marijuana, 10 years of drug education goes down the drain."
Professor Margaret Hamilton, on both the Australian National Council on Drugs and the Premier's Drug Prevention Council, acknowledged a credibility problem for government campaigns among young adults.
She said the next phase of the federal anti-drug campaign was designed to win credibility among different sub groups of users -- if it goes ahead.
"The ads were not quite finalised when the election was called, and then the process stopped," she said.
Get ready for misinformation central.
