ECSTASY REPORT 'LOW-QUALITY': MINISTER

AUSTRALIA has disputed a United Nations finding that it was a world
leader in ecstasy abuse and had the second highest levels of
methamphetamine abuse.

The UN claim was stated in a first-ever global survey of so-called
"designer drugs," which noted sharp rises worldwide in the use of
synthetic stimulants like ecstasy and amphetamines.

Justice Minister Chris Ellison called the UN claim questionable and
said it was based on low-quality data.

"It is disappointing that the quality of Australia's data used in the
report has been subject to inaccurate comparisons with countries that
have significant differences in data collection and, in some cases,
high incidences of under reporting," he said.

Ellison said the Government believed designer drugs were a major
problem in Australia but not to the extent portrayed by the world body.

Australia has cracked down on access to chemicals required in the
manufacture of pharmaceutical narcotics, he said, pointing recent
success in thwarting a number of international drug shipments.

A police operation earlier this month netted Australia's largest
pseudoephedrine haul earlier this month and resulted in 11 arrests,
six in Australia and five in Cambodia.

The UN report found trafficking in amphetamine-type substances has
become a US$65 billion dollar a year business, with profits averaging
3000 to 4000 percent.

Seizures of designer drugs soared in the decade from 1990/1991 to
2000/2001 from four to 40 tonnes.

"ATS manufacture and abuse are spreading. In southeast Asia, for
example, the problem has turned into an alarming epidemic," said the
UN report, released in Rome yesterday as a clarion call against the
major rise in synthetic stimulants observed worldwide.

"Slowly, young people everywhere are catching up with the experience
of their western peers."