The United Nations has questioned the Australian government's ability to enforce international treaties, citing the continuation of NSW's drug injecting room trial.
The criticism was levelled in the UN's 2003 International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) annual report, which also noted that while heroin abuse in Australia was declining, cocaine use appeared to be on the rise.
Australia's federal system of government and the allocation of powers to the states was a major issue for the INCB, the report showed.
The INCB has previously said the drug injecting room trial in NSW is a violation of international drug control conventions.
The NSW government last year announced the injecting room trial would continue for another four years.
The INCB acknowledged the federal government did not support the trial, but said it raised the wider question of Canberra's ability to enforce drug-related treaties.
"(It) puts into question the capacity of the Commonwealth of Australia to ensure the implementation of provisions of the international drug control treaties throughout its territories," the report said.
"... the operation of such facilities (as drug injection rooms) remains a source of grave concern. The board reiterates that they violate the provisions of the international drug control conventions."
The INCB's criticisms were offset by praise for Australia's "successful law enforcement operations" leading to a sharp reduction in the supply of heroin to illicit markets.
"This has resulted in price increases, lower purity levels and a decline in the rate of heroin overdose deaths," the report said.
But it added there had been an increase in the use of cocaine and synthetic drugs, which continued to be widely available despite record seizures at borders.
"... the amounts of cocaine detected and seized in Australia and at the borders have increased sharply," the report said.
Cannabis remained the "drug of choice" in both Australia and New Zealand.
In Australia alone, 72 per cent of all drug-related offences related to cannabis, it said.
The report noted that GHB, ketamine and anti-depressants were becoming popular party drugs in Australia.
"Control of GHB is of significant concern, as large quantities of its precursor chemical gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) are imported for legitimate use," it said.
"The combination of both the availability of GBL and its easy conversion into GHB means that those substances are inexpensive and is therefore a cause for increased concern."
The INCB called on Australia to develop strategies aimed at preventing the abuse of GHB.
------------------------------
20:41 AEDT Wed 3 Mar 2004
UN questions NSW shooting galleries
Link
The criticism was levelled in the UN's 2003 International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) annual report, which also noted that while heroin abuse in Australia was declining, cocaine use appeared to be on the rise.
Australia's federal system of government and the allocation of powers to the states was a major issue for the INCB, the report showed.
The INCB has previously said the drug injecting room trial in NSW is a violation of international drug control conventions.
The NSW government last year announced the injecting room trial would continue for another four years.
The INCB acknowledged the federal government did not support the trial, but said it raised the wider question of Canberra's ability to enforce drug-related treaties.
"(It) puts into question the capacity of the Commonwealth of Australia to ensure the implementation of provisions of the international drug control treaties throughout its territories," the report said.
"... the operation of such facilities (as drug injection rooms) remains a source of grave concern. The board reiterates that they violate the provisions of the international drug control conventions."
The INCB's criticisms were offset by praise for Australia's "successful law enforcement operations" leading to a sharp reduction in the supply of heroin to illicit markets.
"This has resulted in price increases, lower purity levels and a decline in the rate of heroin overdose deaths," the report said.
But it added there had been an increase in the use of cocaine and synthetic drugs, which continued to be widely available despite record seizures at borders.
"... the amounts of cocaine detected and seized in Australia and at the borders have increased sharply," the report said.
Cannabis remained the "drug of choice" in both Australia and New Zealand.
In Australia alone, 72 per cent of all drug-related offences related to cannabis, it said.
The report noted that GHB, ketamine and anti-depressants were becoming popular party drugs in Australia.
"Control of GHB is of significant concern, as large quantities of its precursor chemical gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) are imported for legitimate use," it said.
"The combination of both the availability of GBL and its easy conversion into GHB means that those substances are inexpensive and is therefore a cause for increased concern."
The INCB called on Australia to develop strategies aimed at preventing the abuse of GHB.
------------------------------
20:41 AEDT Wed 3 Mar 2004
UN questions NSW shooting galleries
Link
Wouldn't want to live anywhere else... expect Amsterdam
. What happened to our weighty title of "Largest ecstacy using country per-capita?"