Despite media coverage about the ready availability and dramatic impact of methamphetamines, and the formation of the federal government’s National Ice Taskforce, alcohol continues to be the drug of greatest concern, both for users and society at large.
The anomaly is that it is the only drug (apart from tobacco) that is sold legally, still widely advertised, despite some restrictions, and lobbies actively to limit further restrictions on sales.
Some recent local statistics give a disturbing picture of the extent of the problem, as seen from the users’ perspective.
According to the NNSWLHD’s Mullumbimby/Byron Bay Drug and Alcohol Services, which provides support to clients in an area usually considered to have high level drug usage, alcohol was the principle drug of concern for 65.3% of referrals.
The 2014-15 figures revealed this was more than six times greater than the next two drugs, opioids and cannabis, both of which accounted for 10.7% of referrals.
Amphetamines rated 6.1%, and others, 2%. Male clients accounted for 62.4% of total referrals.
