29 August 2008

Illicit drug use and serious drinking continue to fall in NSW

Minister for Health Reba Meagher said new figures show there has been a continued decline in illicit drug use and high risk drinking in NSW.

Ms Meagher said the preliminary figures from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare's National Drug Strategy Household Survey show the Iemma Government's efforts to tackle illicit drug use and binge drinking are making a difference.

"The new figures show NSW remains below the state target figure of 15% for illicit drug use and efforts to reduce high risk drinking should see that level fall below 25% by 2012," Ms Meagher said.

The survey found:

• illicit drug use has fallen from 14.6 per cent in 2004 to 12.1 per cent for 2007
• cannabis use fell from 10.7 per cent in 2004 to 8 per cent for 2007
• methamphetamine use decreased from 3.1 per cent in 2004 and 1.8 per cent in 2007
• ecstasy use remained steady at 3.4 per cent for 2007.

Ms Meagher said it's not all good news with heroin use rising slightly from 0.1 per cent in 2004 to 0.2 per cent in 2007. Cocaine use has also increased from 1.2 per cent in 2004 to 2 per cent in 2007, which is above the national average of 1.6%.

For alcohol use the survey found:

• low risk drinking decreased slightly from 49 per cent in 2004 to 48.1 per cent in 2007
• high risk drinking fell from 32.2 per cent to 2004 to 31.8 per cent in 2007
• daily drinking decreased from 8.8 per cent in 2004 to 8.3 per cent in 2007.

Ms Meagher said the Iemma Government was committed to tackling the use of illicit drugs in the community and has invested more than $675 million in three dedicated Drug Budgets since the 1999 Drug Summit.

"Since the Drug Summit, our drug policy has recognised the complexity of drug abuse and now tackles the problem on all levels," Ms Meagher said.

"Today's figures show we are making progress but there is always more we can do."

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au