Pubdate: Sun, 14 Oct 2007
Source: Sunday Mail (Australia)
Copyright: 2007 Queensland Newspapers
Contact: http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/editorial/letter
Website: http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/sundaymail
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/435
Author: Kay Dibben

DRUG USE RISES FOR TEEN GIRLS

AUSTRALIAN and American teenage girls have caught up  with boys in
levels of illicit drug and alcohol use, a  US drug trends researcher
says. Girls' use of  methamphetamines, ecstasy and alcohol was almost
equal  to boys' level of use, or in some cases even higher,  according
to Professor Jane Maxwell of the University  of Texas.

"Teenage girls are catching up with or exceeding boys  in some of
their use of some of the drugs in both  countries," Prof Maxwell said
at a University of  Queensland seminar on Wednesday.

"We need to quit thinking of girls as not being at as  high a risk as
boys."

Prof Maxwell has been researching international drug  trends for
several years and has worked at Queensland  University of Technology
on a scholarship.

She compared a recent Federal Government-funded  national drug
strategy household survey, with a similar  national American survey.

Prof Maxwell said girls faced some drug and  alcohol-related risks
that boys did not have, in terms  of sexual assault.

"The number of standard drinks recommended for girls is  less than it
is for boys," Prof Maxwell said.

"We have in the past targeted messages about date rape.

"But a lot of research shows girls, before they are  assaulted, have
been drinking very, very heavily.

"Girls need to be aware they are putting themselves at  risk just
through heavy drinking – whether or not  somebody slips a pill
in their drink."

Prof Maxwell said that in 1998 Australia had a much  higher level of
illicit drug use than the US.

"Overall I have seen a decrease in drug use in  Australia and fairly
stable levels in the US," she  said.

"We are beginning to see the emergence in both  countries of people
who are very impaired from cannabis  use."

Prof Maxwell said Australia had a higher level of  methamphetamine and
ecstasy use, while the US had  higher levels of cocaine use and
hallucinogenic drug  use.

"The use of heroin is about equal in both countries,"  she said.
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