DRUGS AND STATISTICS

Heroin Trends

There are an estimated 75,000 heroin addicts in Australia.

960 people died from heroin overdoses across Australia in 1999.

The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) interviewed 41 heroin
users and ten 'key informants' around Kings Cross in February this year.

Most of those interviewed said a major heroin shortage started around
Christmas/New Year. 40 per cent of the users said they were taking more
cocaine to compensate for the shortage of heroin.

Overdoses in the Cabramatta area

September 2000 - 77

April 2001 - 2

Source: NSW Ambulance Service

Prices

Police say the street price of a gram of heroin has risen from around $30
last year to around $50-$120.

Users

In 1991 around 1.7% of Australians over 14 years old had tried heroin at
least once, and in 1998 this figure rose to 2.2%.

In 1998 112,000 Australians had used heroin in the previous 12 months.

Source: Australian Institue of Health and Welfare

Possession of narcotics (Charges)

Across NSW

1995: 1,296 (21.2 per 100,000 population)

2000: 2,443 (37.8 per 100,000 population)

In the Fairfield Local Government Area (Incl. Cabramatta)

1995: 575 (307.4 per 100,000 population)

2000: 747 (390.6 per 100,000 population)

Dealing or trafficking narcotics (Charges)

Across NSW

1995: 730

2000: 829

In the Fairfield/Cabramatta area

1995: 436

2000: 169

Source: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research