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Illicit Drug Use in Rural and Remote Indigenous Communities

NCJ Number
214605
Author(s)
Judy Putt; Brendan Delahunty
Date Published
August 2006
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This paper summarizes the main findings on the extent of illicit drug use by indigenous young people in Australia, the individual community harms identified with such use, and implications for service delivery.
Abstract
Findings confirm that substance abuse among indigenous users in rural and regional locations in Australia primarily involves alcohol, cannabis, petrol and other solvents, and increasingly, amphetamines. According to non-urban police, the main illicit drugs used by indigenous people in their area ranged from cannabis and amphetamines to much lower levels for ecstasy, non-prescription benzodiazepines, heroin, and cocaine. A major concern was the impact of widespread heavy use of cannabis, mostly by young people, perceived as exacerbating existing substance misuse related problems. The majority of non-urban police believed cannabis use contributed to many local community problems, with domestic/family violence (76 percent) and mental health (74 percent) being the most frequently cited. In rural and remote areas, treatment and diversion options for illicit drug use remain extremely limited. With more flexible outreach services, more integrated alcohol, illicit drug and mental health services, and brief interventions suited to rural and remote indigenous communities, police will have increased opportunities to contribute to demand reduction strategies. Promising initiatives include police using a combination of community policing and enforcement strategies to identify, target, and remove local drug dealers and undermine their support base.