Alcohol Ban Leads To Increased Drug Use

Main Category: Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs
Article Date: 04 Mar 2008 - 13:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

Restrictions on alcohol have led to the increased use of marijuana among a remote Aboriginal community according to a study in the Australian Journal of Rural Health published by Wiley -Blackwell.

The study entitled "Lukumbat Marawana: A Changing Pattern of Drug Use by Youth in a Remote Aboriginal Community" finds that the prohibition of alcohol and petrol has lead to rise of marijuana use.

In addition, the study highlights the importance of looking at Indigenous substance misuse in the total context of Indigenous poverty, poor health and lack of opportunities.

Lead authors, Drs. Kate Senior and Richard Chenhall, from the Menzies School of Health Research in Darwin, say, "While banning alcohol in Indigenous communities is successful in reducing harm caused by alcohol abuse, it must be done in full consultation with the communities."

National statistics indicate that marijuana use is highly prevalent in Australia with at least 11% of the urban non-Indigenous population using the drug. This number doubles to 22% among the Indigenous people. Current evidence suggests that rates of marijuana use may be much higher in remote Indigenous communities throughout the Northern Territory

The prohibition of alcohol within the remote Aboriginal community without any attendant efforts to address underlying social causes has created a new set of problems. The existing marijuana market has grown and its use has extended beyond youths to include adults.

Drs. Senior and Chenhall add, "Efforts to control licit substances, such as alcohol, should address the dynamics of alcohol and drug use in totality, as well as interventions that are able to contend with the underlying social determinants of Indigenous health."

About Australian Journal of Rural Health

The Australian Journal of Rural Health is a multidisciplinary refereed journal, and since its inception in 1993 has contributed to the accumulation of knowledge of rural health in Australia. The Journal aims to establish a national and international reputation for the quality of its scholarly discourse and value to rural health professionals. In 1999 the Australian Journal of Rural Health became the official journal of the National Rural Health Alliance, which is the peak body for rural and remote health organizations in Australia. As well as its readers in Australia, the Journal is taken by subscribers in Canada, Japan, USA and the United Kingdom. Readership includes general practitioners, nurses, allied health professionals, pharmacists, health administrators, universities, rural health units and libraries.

About Wiley-Blackwell

Wiley-Blackwell was formed in February 2007 as a result of the acquisition of Blackwell Publishing Ltd. by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., and its merger with Wiley's Scientific, Technical, and Medical business. Together, the companies have created a global publishing business with deep strength in every major academic and professional field. Wiley-Blackwell publishes approximately 1,400 scholarly peer-reviewed journals and an extensive collection of books with global appeal. For more information on Wiley-Blackwell, please visit http://www.blackwellpublishing.com or http://interscience.wiley.com.

About Wiley

Founded in 1807, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. has been a valued source of information and understanding for 200 years, helping people around the world meet their needs and fulfill their aspirations. Since 1901, Wiley and its acquired companies have published the works of more than 350 Nobel laureates in all categories: Literature, Economics, Physiology/Medicine, Chemistry and Peace.

Our core businesses include scientific, technical, medical and scholarly journals, encyclopedias, books, and online products and services; professional/trade publishes books, subscription products, training materials, and online applications and websites; and educational materials for undergraduate and graduate students and lifelong learners. Wiley's global headquarters are located in Hoboken, New Jersey, with operations in the U.S., Europe, Asia, Canada, and Australia. The Company's Web site can be accessed at http://www.wiley.com. The Company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols JWa and JWb.

http://www.wiley.com