New drug prevention campaign

The federal Government has launched a campaign aimed at preventing young people from using illicit drugs.

The prevention campaign is designed to educate people about the risks and negative consequences of illicit drug use, in particular the harm caused by using cannabis, amphetamines and ecstasy.

The most recent National Drug Household survey reported the proportion of Australians who had used illicit substances in the past year fell to 15.3 per cent from 16.9 per cent.

Cannabis remains the most widely used drug, with 11.3 per cent of respondents admitting to smoking it in the previous year, down from 12.9 per cent.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing, Christopher Pyne, said drug use cost Australia about $6 billion a year.

“There is no safe way to use illicit drugs,” Mr Pyne said. “This campaign will reinforce the message that illicit drugs are harmful and dangerous.”

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Mon, 18 April 2005
Source: Northern Territory News
Website: http://www.ntnews.com.au
Email: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Copyright: Northern Territory News 2005