A Raw Deal? : Impact on the Health of Consumers Relative to the Cost of Pharmacotherapy

James Rowe. Centre for Applied Social Research (RMIT) for the Salvation Army Research and Advocacy Unit. June 2008.

Australia’s Health 2008
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, June 2008.
Australia's health 2008 is the 11th biennial health report of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. It's the nation's premier source of statistics and informed commentary on: - patterns and determinants of health and illness - health across the life stages - the supply and use of health services - expenditure and workforce - and health sector performance.

Australian Crime Commission Illicit Drug Data Report 2006-07
Australian Crime Commission June 2008. 
This report is produced by the Australian Crime Commission (ACC) and is recognised as one of the most valuable tools for law enforcement agencies, policy and decision makers, research bodies and other stakeholders in combating illicit drugs.

Drug driving among police detainees in Australia
Kerryn Adams, Lance Smith and Natalie Hind. Australian Institute of Criminology Trends and issues in crime and criminal justice, no. 357, June 2008.
In recent years there has been increasing concern about the prevalence of drug driving in Australia. Over the past four years, the majority of Australian states have introduced legislation that makes it an offence to drive with the presence of a range of drugs in the blood or saliva. Using data from the Drug Use Monitoring in Australia (DUMA) program, this paper examines the prevalence of drug driving among a sample of police detainees in key sites in 2005 and 2006. The study found that two-thirds of detainees had driven after using drugs and/or alcohol in the previous 12 months, which is significantly higher than the incidence of drug driving in the general population. Approximately three-quarters of detainees who had been involved as a driver in a high-speed police pursuit reported being under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol at the time of the pursuit. Consistent with past research, detainees were most likely to perceive that cannabis and methamphetamine did not have a negative effect on their driving ability. These findings suggest the need for continued monitoring of the prevalence of drug and/or alcohol driving and perceptions of the impact on driving ability of different drugs (including alcohol), as well as perceived risks of detection given recent legislative changes that enable random drug testing of drivers.

Drug related crime: evidence from the national Drug Strategy Household Survey
Australian Institute of Criminology, Crime Facts Info no. 172. June 2008.
As part of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) 2007 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS), respondents aged 14 years and over were asked whether, in the 12 months prior, they had experienced drug-related victimisation or were involved in a range of illegal activities while under the influence of drugs. Drug-relatedness is based on the perceptions of respondents in the NDSHS and does not necessarily indicate the actual presence of drug use or intoxication at the time of an incident. The results indicated that around 11 percent of Australians were verbally abused, eight percent were made to feel fearful and two percent were physically abused by someone who they believed was under the influence of drugs (not including alcohol).

Policing and cannabis use in Australia
Julia Tresidder and Carly Shaddock (NCPIC). Australian Institute of Criminology Bulleting Series 1 May 2008.
Cannabis is illegal in all states and territories across Australia. Each jurisdiction has legislation relating to the cultivation, supply, possession and use of cannabis. In some jurisdictions, minor cannabis possession offences may be dealt with using civil penalties in particular circumstances.

Ready-to-drink alcohol beverages
Senate Community Affairs Committee, 24 June 2008
Risky and high risk drinking by young people and underage drinkers has become a major public health issue. This report investigates the data on consumption patterns and evidence supporting the government's proposed increase in excise, which the committee supports in the context of a range of measures undertaken or to be considered to address harmful alcohol consumption by young people.

Responding to substance abuse and offending in Indigenous communities: review of diversion programs
Jacqueline Joudo. Australian Institute of Criminology, Research and public policy series no. 88 June 2008.
This report outlines the findings from a study into the response of governments to Indigenous substance use and related offending. It explores the results of a qualitative examination of the type and extent of diversion programs currently operating, and discusses issues around accessibility and barriers to participation and completion. 

The role of families in preventing alcohol-related harm among young people
Bernadette Ward and Pamela Snow. DrugInfo Clearinghouse Prevention Research Quarterly June 2008. The misuse of alcohol in adolescence is linked to increased risk of alcohol dependence and other social and health inequalities in adulthood. Many factors influence the drinking behaviour of young people and one of the most important of these is their relationship with their parents. Health professionals have an important role in supporting families and carers concerned about preventing alcohol-related harm in their children

Tobacco and Aboriginal people in NSW
Rowena G. Ivers, New South Wales Public Health Bulletin; 19 (3-4), June 2008.
Tobacco use is a major cause of morbidity and mortality for Aboriginal people in NSW. Few interventions to reduce the harm resulting from tobacco use have been developed specifically for this population. However, brief interventions for smoking cessation, pharmacotherapies such as nicotine replacement therapy, bupropion and varenicline, quit groups and interventions aimed at reducing smoking by pregnant women and hospital inpatients are likely to be effective. Broader population interventions such as anti-tobacco advertising, price rises for tobacco products and prevention of sales to minors are also likely to be effective in reducing the harm resulting from tobacco use.