MARIJUANA-RELATED SUICIDE AN EPIDEMIC, SAYS MP

Marijuana-related suicide had reached epidemic proportions in Aboriginal
communities in the Northern Territory, the NT government's most senior
indigenous MP said today.

Community Development Minister John Ah Kit said his government had to
reduce marijuana abuse, which had increased markedly in black communities
in recent years.

In one community of 650, there were 30 suicide attempts last year related
to marijuana smoking, Mr Ah Kit said,

During a one-month period, three of the attempts succeeded.

"Marijuana is sweeping across our communities in major proportions and it
is a real concern," Mr Ah Kit told ABC radio.

"People are buying this marijuana and when they have an opportunity, mix it
up with alcohol.

"There's some sort of fusion; people become paranoid and people are
committing suicide.

"We need to start to turn it around; we can't continue to allow this
suicide stuff happen in epidemic proportions."

Police Minister Paul Henderson would be making a cabinet submission on the
marijuana problem soon, Mr Ah Kit said.

A parliamentary select committee on substance abuse would make its
recommendations early next year.

Marijuana is rarely cultivated around Aboriginal communities.

Mr Ah Kit said the supply and distribution was organised and involved both
indigenous and non-indigenous people.

ATSIC northern zone commissioner Kim Hill said communities had to take
responsibility by not protecting dealers.

"We can throw millions of dollars into programs; however if the people in
the communities don't take responsibility and dob these people in, we're
just going to waste a lot of money and waste an lot of time," Mr Hill said.