Grog Tops Our Vice List

Seven out of 10 Territorians being treated for substance abuse report alcoholism as their main drug of concern, a new report reveals.

That makes the rate of Territorians in treatment because of alcohol almost twice the national average.

The recently-published Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) annual report, Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services in Australia 2002-03, collected data on the 131,000* “treatment episodes” in Australia from July 2002 – June 2003, 3032 of which were in the NT.

A treatment episode is the time of contact, with defined start and finish dates, between a client and an agency.

Of the total number of treatment sessions, most were for Territory males and those aged 20 – 39 years.

The report showed that alcohol was the main drug for which seven out of 10 Territorians sought treatment (73 per cent males, 69 per cent females,) followed by cannabis as the main drug (9 per cent) and then amphetamines (6 per cent.)

Nationally, the rate of people in treatment due to alcohol was 38 per cent, cannabis 22 per cent and heroin 18 per cent (compared to 2 per cent in the NT.)

One third of the treatment sessions in the NT dedicated to cannabis were for Territory youth aged 10 – 19 years, compared to 16 per cent of those aged 20 – 29, and 4 per cent for those older than 30.

Analysis of specific age groups showed that for 78 per cent of Territorians aged 30 years or more in treatment, alcohol was the main problem – along with 60 per cent of 20 – 29-year-olds and 54 per cent of youth aged 10 – 19.

And 60 per cent of NT clients identified as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island descent – compared to just 9 per cent nationwide.

But the report’s co-author, Chrysanthe Psychogios, said this number should be interpreted with caution as the majority of dedicated indigenous abuse services had not been included in the data.

“Treatment for cannabis may be lower in the NT because people aren’t seeking treatment for it,” Ms Psychogios said.

*Editor’s note: I made the following correction in the last article. 131,00 should have been 131,000.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: 22nd December 2004
Source: The Darwin Sun
Author: Narelle Hine
Website:http://www.thedarwinsun.com