Australians are in denial about their alcohol use, are drinking at dangerously high-risk levels, and pay some of the highest prices in the world for cocaine and ecstasy, a new Global Drug Survey has found.
The survey, conducted in conjunction with media outlets including Fairfax Media at the end of last year in 18 countries, was one of the largest-ever surveys of Australian drug users (6000 Australians from 72,000 people surveyed worldwide). The typical respondent was aged about 37, lived with a partner and worked full-time, and about 60 per cent of respondents were male.
The findings on Aussie drug users are listed as follows:
- High levels of prescription drug use; a third of more than 1900 people who used the painkiller codeine said they did so to get "high" or for relaxation. Australians are some of the biggest users of prescription drugs.
- Almost one in 10 respondents had bought their drugs online. Just under 7 per cent had bought "research chemicals" or so-called "legal highs", higher than the global average.
- Australians and New Zealanders reported some of the highest drug prices in the world. Cocaine was more than triple the price in many European countries, and ecstasy more than double.
- Some 4.5 per cent had snorted a white powder without knowing what it was; almost one in 10 people in their early 20s admitted to doing so.
- About 1000 people were drinking at high-risk levels. About 350 scored more than 20 on the test, indicating a need for clinical help, while about 50 had ended up in emergency departments, often after drinking 10 or 20 drinks in a sitting.
What are your thoughts on these findings? Do Australians drink at dangerously high levels? Is 6,000 people enough for a survey to reflect accurately?
Article via SMH.