OUR DRUG SHAME

ALMOST five per cent of Canberra's 27,800 secondary students, some as young
as 12 years, have admitted using needles to inject heroin or cocaine, a
survey has revealed.

Described as "frightening" by ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope, the survey,
released for the first time today, shows that more than half of all
students admitted using illicit drugs.

At least 15 per cent of students sampled said they had used illicit drugs
the previous week and two per cent admitted to sharing needles.

About 90 per cent of students admitted to drinking alcohol or smoking and
half of all students believed getting drunk occasionally was acceptable
behaviour.

The 1999 survey by the ACT Department of Health and Community Care
questioned students on their use of illicit drugs, alcohol and cigarettes.
The result showed a slight fall overall (about 6 per cent) compared with a
1996 survey.

Regarded as a yardstick for consumption of illegal substances, the survey
has reaffirmed the widespread illegal behaviour by children aged 12 to 17
despite comprehensive school programs warning them of the dangers of
drug-taking.

Mr Stanhope said the survey had revealed some disturbing information,
especially that more than half of all students had admitted using illicit
drugs at some time in their lives.

"While the survey results are nothing to gloat about, they do show a high
level of awareness of the dangers of drugs among our student population,"
Mr Stanhope said.

"All our schools have awareness programs about the dangers of illicit
drugs, smoking and alcohol. We have a range of programs aimed at helping
young people with problematic drug use."

Sixteen-year-old males (59.6 per cent) and 15-year-old females (65.6 per
cent) reported trying an illicit drug at least once.

Close to a third of all students had used cannabis, one in four students
had tried inhalants, 10 per cent had tried tranquillisers and 14 per cent
had used other illicit drugs: hallucinogens (7.1 per cent), amphetamines
(7.7 per cent), ecstasy (4.6 per cent), cocaine (4.7 per cent), heroin (4.1
per cent) and steroids (3.6 per cent). The survey showed that students aged
15 and over were more likely to use these drugs.

Of the needle users, 25 per cent got their needles from a needle exchange
service.

Up to 45 per cent of boys and 27 per cent of girls said drinking was the
best way to relax: 86 per cent of 12-year-old male students and 96.3 per
cent of 17-year-olds said they had tried alcohol at least once.

About 30 per cent of students aged 12 had smoked, and 60 per cent of all
students said they had smoked in the previous week.

The survey also examined sun protection, finding that eight in 10 students
got sunburnt the previous summer. But 60 per cent wore sunburn cream.

The students come from all Government, Catholic and independent schools in
the ACT.