ILLICIT DRUG USE ON THE RISE

A report that found abuse of most illicit drugs was on the rise
highlighted the ineffectiveness of the Government's strategy, the
federal Opposition said yesterday.

The Australian Bureau of Criminal Intelligence report to be issued
today found cocaine was the only illicit drug not gaining popularity,
Labor justice spokesman Duncan Kerr said. And heroin users over the
age of 14 had increased by 50 per cent from 1995 to 1998, he said.
"John Howard's belief that his tough-on-drugs stance is curbing
illicit drug use in Australia is completely out of touch with
reality," Mr Kerr said.

The report also found 40 per cent of the population over the age of 14
had tried cannabis.