Pubdate: Sat, 04 May 2002
Source: Canberra Times (Australia)
Copyright: 2002 Canberra Times
Contact:  http://www.canberratimes.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/71
Author: Peter Clack

OUR DRUG SHAME

ALMOST five per cent of Canberra's 27,800 secondary students, some as young 
as 12 years, have admitted using needles to inject heroin or cocaine, a 
survey has revealed.

Described as "frightening" by ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope, the survey, 
released for the first time today, shows that more than half of all 
students admitted using illicit drugs.

At least 15 per cent of students sampled said they had used illicit drugs 
the previous week and two per cent admitted to sharing needles.

About 90 per cent of students admitted to drinking alcohol or smoking and 
half of all students believed getting drunk occasionally was acceptable 
behaviour.

The 1999 survey by the ACT Department of Health and Community Care 
questioned students on their use of illicit drugs, alcohol and cigarettes. 
The result showed a slight fall overall (about 6 per cent) compared with a 
1996 survey.

Regarded as a yardstick for consumption of illegal substances, the survey 
has reaffirmed the widespread illegal behaviour by children aged 12 to 17 
despite comprehensive school programs warning them of the dangers of 
drug-taking.

Mr Stanhope said the survey had revealed some disturbing information, 
especially that more than half of all students had admitted using illicit 
drugs at some time in their lives.

"While the survey results are nothing to gloat about, they do show a high 
level of awareness of the dangers of drugs among our student population," 
Mr Stanhope said.

"All our schools have awareness programs about the dangers of illicit 
drugs, smoking and alcohol. We have a range of programs aimed at helping 
young people with problematic drug use."

Sixteen-year-old males (59.6 per cent) and 15-year-old females (65.6 per 
cent) reported trying an illicit drug at least once.

Close to a third of all students had used cannabis, one in four students 
had tried inhalants, 10 per cent had tried tranquillisers and 14 per cent 
had used other illicit drugs: hallucinogens (7.1 per cent), amphetamines 
(7.7 per cent), ecstasy (4.6 per cent), cocaine (4.7 per cent), heroin (4.1 
per cent) and steroids (3.6 per cent). The survey showed that students aged 
15 and over were more likely to use these drugs.

Of the needle users, 25 per cent got their needles from a needle exchange 
service.

Up to 45 per cent of boys and 27 per cent of girls said drinking was the 
best way to relax: 86 per cent of 12-year-old male students and 96.3 per 
cent of 17-year-olds said they had tried alcohol at least once.

About 30 per cent of students aged 12 had smoked, and 60 per cent of all 
students said they had smoked in the previous week.

The survey also examined sun protection, finding that eight in 10 students 
got sunburnt the previous summer. But 60 per cent wore sunburn cream.

The students come from all Government, Catholic and independent schools in 
the ACT.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens