ALS RECORDS RISE IN USE

ILLICIT drug use by Aborigines is increasing, according to a
community drug summit issues paper.

It found that treatment and preventive programs were rare and
under-resourced.The paper, prepared by the National Drug Research
Institute at Curtin University, said evidence showed that more
Aborigines used drugs such as cannabis, heroin and amphetamines. Many
users took more than one drug.

The paper said reports from regional centres, such as Port Hedland,
Kalgoorlie and Esperance, suggested amphetamine use in these areas
could be related to drug use in mining, fishing and hospitality
industries because drugs were more easily available.

It said statistics from the WA Aboriginal Legal Service showed an
increase in the number of illicit drug-related charges it dealt with,
from 273 in 1999 to 338 in 2000.

The issues paper was one of nine released this week to promote
discussion before the State Government's community drug summit in
August.

Research institute Associate Professor Dennis Gray said illicit drug
use by Aborigines was an increasingly important issue.

"There is evidence of an increase and what we need to do is to step
in and try to address the problem before it gets out of hand," he
said. "The issues paper is the first step in the process."

A community forum on Aboriginal illicit drug abuse will be held on
June 27 at the Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service in East Perth.