Statistics
People use drugs, both legal and illegal, for a number of reasons to obtain relief from physical or psychological pain; for social reasons; for relaxation; for the pleasurable effects; to control stress; because of loneliness or social isolation; social rebellion; and cultural reasons. The way that people use illegal drugs has been described as similar to usage patterns for drugs like tobacco and alcohol, and falls into five major categories. These categories are experimental use, social or recreational use, situational use, intensive or binge use and compulsive or dependant use. These categories overlap to a certain extent and no-one will fit exactly into each description.
In Australia it is reliably estimated that there are already between 150,000 to 200,000 people who have been exposed to the hepatitis C virus and an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 new infections are occurring in Australia each year. Of those already infected we estimate at least 50,000 to 70,000 live in New South Wales…It is thought that of all people who are already infect about 80% to 85% contracted it through sharing injecting drug equipment…hepatitis C is not classified as a sexually transmitted disease and sexually transmitted disease and sexual transmission of hepatitis C is thought to be extremely low risk. Of the 8,000 to 10,000 people being newly infected in 1997, its known that the vast majority contact hepatitis C through blood to blood contact from sharing drug injecting equipment (Loveday, Submission 47).
In examining the issues surrounding the establishment or trial of injecting rooms it is recognised that the use of illicit drugs is not just a matter for the criminal law, but that there are also significant health and welfare considerations to be taken into account. It is in the interests of the community that solutions for the problems associated with illicit drug use are found. It is imperative that authorities reduce the crime, corruption, disease and death associated with the personal use of illicit drugs.
The mean age of respondents was 26.2 years;
C Just over two fifths (43.4%) were women, a similar proportion (44.3%) were married or living with their sexual partner, and 41.7% had at least one child, 33.6% having a child in their care; C Just under one quarter (23.8%) listed senior high school as their highest level of education completed, 22.4% listed trade or technical school and 6.8% had completed a university or college course; C 46.4% of respondents were employed and of these 66.4% were in full time employment; 30.3% were unemployed; and C Whilst the majority of respondents (59.6%) lived in rental accommodation, just over one in six (16.8%) owned or were buying their place of residence, and just under one in six (15.4%) lived in their parent=s home.
Only 38% of injections in the injecting room in 2006 were heroin injections. Substances such as cocaine and ‘ice’, highly destructive in the longer term but not presenting high risks of immediate overdose, are commonly injected, as is prescription morphine.
Only 11% of injecting room clients were referred to maintenance treatment, detox or rehab. 3.5% of clients were referred to detox and only 1% referred to rehabilitation. None of Sydney’s major rehabs such as Odyssey House, WHOS or the Salvation Army ever sighted one of the referrals.
Currently a disturbing 1.6% of Australians have used heroin. However surveys show that 3.6% of NSW respondents say they would use heroin if an injecting room
was available to them, most for the first time, potentially doubling the number who would use the drug.
Drugs used in injecting room January to June 2006:
Heroin: 38%
Ice: 6%
Cocaine: 21%
Prescription Morphine:31%
"The Sunday Telegraph can reveal that ice addicts
make up eight per cent of users at the Medically
Supervised Injecting Centre, . . .” Sunday Telegraph Dec 10 2003
In Australia it is reliably estimated that there are already between 150,000 to 200,000 people who have been exposed to the hepatitis C virus and an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 new infections are occurring in Australia each year. Of those already infected we estimate at least 50,000 to 70,000 live in New South Wales…It is thought that of all people who are already infect about 80% to 85% contracted it through sharing injecting drug equipment…hepatitis C is not classified as a sexually transmitted disease and sexually transmitted disease and sexual transmission of hepatitis C is thought to be extremely low risk. Of the 8,000 to 10,000 people being newly infected in 1997, its known that the vast majority contact hepatitis C through blood to blood contact from sharing drug injecting equipment (Loveday, Submission 47).
In examining the issues surrounding the establishment or trial of injecting rooms it is recognised that the use of illicit drugs is not just a matter for the criminal law, but that there are also significant health and welfare considerations to be taken into account. It is in the interests of the community that solutions for the problems associated with illicit drug use are found. It is imperative that authorities reduce the crime, corruption, disease and death associated with the personal use of illicit drugs.
The mean age of respondents was 26.2 years;
C Just over two fifths (43.4%) were women, a similar proportion (44.3%) were married or living with their sexual partner, and 41.7% had at least one child, 33.6% having a child in their care; C Just under one quarter (23.8%) listed senior high school as their highest level of education completed, 22.4% listed trade or technical school and 6.8% had completed a university or college course; C 46.4% of respondents were employed and of these 66.4% were in full time employment; 30.3% were unemployed; and C Whilst the majority of respondents (59.6%) lived in rental accommodation, just over one in six (16.8%) owned or were buying their place of residence, and just under one in six (15.4%) lived in their parent=s home.
Only 38% of injections in the injecting room in 2006 were heroin injections. Substances such as cocaine and ‘ice’, highly destructive in the longer term but not presenting high risks of immediate overdose, are commonly injected, as is prescription morphine.
Only 11% of injecting room clients were referred to maintenance treatment, detox or rehab. 3.5% of clients were referred to detox and only 1% referred to rehabilitation. None of Sydney’s major rehabs such as Odyssey House, WHOS or the Salvation Army ever sighted one of the referrals.
Currently a disturbing 1.6% of Australians have used heroin. However surveys show that 3.6% of NSW respondents say they would use heroin if an injecting room
was available to them, most for the first time, potentially doubling the number who would use the drug.
Drugs used in injecting room January to June 2006:
Heroin: 38%
Ice: 6%
Cocaine: 21%
Prescription Morphine:31%
"The Sunday Telegraph can reveal that ice addicts
make up eight per cent of users at the Medically
Supervised Injecting Centre, . . .” Sunday Telegraph Dec 10 2003
