The traffic in and abuse of illicit drugs results in significant costs to individuals and the community. To minimise the harm associated with illicit drug activity there is close cooperation between the Commonwealth Government, the State and Territory Governments, the various police services and other law enforcement agencies. Included in these is the Australian Customs Service, which has responsibility for the enforcement of laws controlling importing and exporting of illicit drugs. These agencies direct particular attention to monitoring the popularity of the various types and forms of illicit drugs and identifying emerging patterns of use through the analysis of law enforcement data on illicit drug seizures and arrests.
As table 11.11 shows, in 1999-2000 by far the largest category of drug offenders involved cannabis offences, with 55,480 offenders (67% of the national total). The next largest category of offenders involved heroin offences, with 11,223 offenders (14% of the national total).
Information on the widespread problems arising from drug abuse in Australia, and on how these problems are being approached, is presented in the Australian Illicit Drug Report produced by the Australian Bureau of Criminal Intelligence.
11.11 TOTAL OFFENDERS, By Drug Type - 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2000
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Drug type | NSW | Vic. | Qld | SA | WA | Tas. | NT | ACT | Aust.(a)(b) |
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|
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Cannabis | 14,121 | 7,419 | 13,654 | 11,789 | 6,798 | 799 | 900 | n.a. | 55,480 |
Cocaine | 356 | 43 | 23 | 5 | 6 | - | - | n.a. | 433 |
Heroin | 3,782 | 5,952 | 644 | 326 | 495 | 9 | 15 | n.a. | 11,223 |
Amphetamine | 2,786 | 1,140 | 2,158 | 743 | 1,104 | 28 | 124 | n.a. | 8,083 |
Hallucinogens | 68 | - | 79 | 62 | 72 | 1 | 8 | n.a. | 290 |
Steroids | 45 | - | 22 | - | - | 1 | 6 | n.a. | 74 |
Other drugs | 2,335 | 2,431 | 1,304 | 264 | 403 | 44 | 31 | n.a. | 6,812 |
Total | 23,493 | 16,985 | 17,884 | 13,189 | 8,878 | 882 | 1,084 | n.a. | 82,395 |
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(a) Excludes Australian Federal Police drug arrests data.
(b) Excludes data for the Australian Capital Territory.
Source: Australian Bureau of Criminal Intelligence, Australian Illicit Drug Report, 1999-2000. |