Data showing appalling rate of illicit intravenous drug use in WA

6/8/95

Premier Richard Court today released data which showed that more than 18,000 people in Western Australia used illicit drugs by intravenous injection during the last year and that over 1.7 million needles and syringes were distributed in the State during the same period.

"Needles and syringes for illicit intravenous drug injection are now being used in Western Australia at the rate of over 32,000 each week," Mr Court said.

"Intravenous drug users in Western Australia now spend more than $1million on needles and syringes just to support their habit."

The Premier said the figures were shocking and underlined that illicit drugs were now a major health and social problem in WA.

"This data, which was compiled by the Task Force on Drug Abuse and the Health Department, will be used by the State Government to help develop a targeted yet comprehensive response to drug abuse in WA," he said.

"In releasing this data, the State Government hopes that it will help local communities to focus on the problem of illicit drug abuse in their local area.

"Many parents in particular are not aware of the extent of this major social problem and the release of this data may make them more vigilant about their children's personal conduct.

"The data is currently being examined by the Task force on Drug Abuse, which was established by the State Government last year to develop a comprehensive Government response to this social problem.

"While such data must be interpreted with caution, it is important that we are able to identify which areas may require specific attention.

"It is expected that the taskforce will make its report public within the next month.

"This report will be the first time that a State Government has attempted to develop a comprehensive across Government approach to this major social problem.

"While the Government has a major role in responding to this major social problem so also does the wider community and this disturbing information should be used to further discourage illicit drug abuse."