ILLEGAL DRUG USE LINKED TO SMOKING

PARENTS who smoke are likely to influence their children to take drugs,
according to the Australian National Council on Drugs. The council heard
evidence last month, from the Federal Government's chief tobacco adviser Dr
David Hill, of emerging links between smoking, mental health and drug use
in children.

Council member Professor Wayne Hall said there were now some very worrying
correlations between parents who smoked tobacco and the drug-taking
behaviours of their children.

"The council is not interested in blaming parents who smoke for their
children's behaviours," Professor Hall said.

"But the ANCD (Australian National Council on Drugs) is interested in
finding out about some of the enticements for young people to take up using
illicit drugs, and there is some indication that parental smoking may be a
factor."

Dr Hill briefed the council on a range of tobacco-related problems,
including evidence of a link between parental smoking and children's drug
taking, links between smoking and mental illness, and other developments in
Australia -- including the overall thrust of the National Tobacco Strategy.

The council, at its most recent meeting in Hobart, decided to support the
National Tobacco Strategy but also push for more action in the other
highlighted areas, such as the link between parental smoking and children's
drug taking.

Council member Professor Ian Webster said the link between smoking and
mental illness should also be carefully examined.