Dependant heroin users (NSW): more than 50,000

Opiate (eg, heroin) overdose deaths:

Australia-wide in 1992: 327 (aged 15-44).

Australia-wide in 1998: 700+ (aged 15-44)

Percentage of drug users with hep C:50-70%

Cost of drug consumption, treatment, prevention, health services, law enforcement and lost workplace productivity in Australia annually:

Tobacco: $12.7 billion

alcohol $4.5 billion

illegal drugs $1.7 billion

Prevalence of drug use in Australia (by people aged 14+):

Alcohol: 90%

Tobacco: 49%

Tranquillisers: 3%

Amphetamines: 9%

Ecstasy: 6%

Cocaine: 4.4%

Heroin 1.6%

Source: 2001 Household survey

From Green Left Weekly, July 30, 2003.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.

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