Aborigines' cannabis use falls in NT

Ongoing research has revealed cannabis use in Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory has dropped slightly in the past four years.

The Territory's Menzies School of Health Research has revisited baseline figures on drug use in Aboriginal communities in Arnhem Land from 2001.

The report is being finalised for publication but so far it shows cannabis use has declined moderately among Indigenous women and men over 20, although the main users continue to be adolescent males.

Senior researcher Alan Clough says the results coincide with increased police efforts to cut off the supply to remote communities.

"I think it's been pretty crucial that the glut in the availability of cannabis has been lifted, so people now are not exposed to virtually an unlimited supply," he said.

"It just seems like it was out of control back in 2001 and it's pretty clearly under greater control now."

Mr Clough says cutting off the cannabis supply allows people to distance themselves from the drug.

"We're finding that people are wanting assistance to get away from the practice - they feel like it's inhibiting them from living their life the way they want," he said.

"We now have the opportunity I think to try to figure out ways to deliver on services and interventions for individuals to assist them to give up cannabis."

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Sat, 29 October 2005
Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Australia Web)
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Copyright: 2005 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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