Drug Demand Is 7 Billion
A study by the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that demand for illicit drugs in Australia in 2010 was 7 billion dollars.
The vast majority of illicit drug money is going directly to criminals that manufacture and distribute the illicit drugs.
The huge profit margin on illicit drugs is fuelling the demand.
More than half of the illicit drug expenditure is on cannabis.
Amphetamines, cocaine heroin and ecstasy account for the bulk of other illicit drug expenditure.
Only $361 million is spent on drug treatment.
(Source: The Melbourne Age newspaper 22 June 2013)
DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL COMMENTS-
This latest estimate of illicit drug demand confirms what other Australian agencies are reporting that demand is high and criminals are reaping massive profits.
Most of the supposed drug treatment, which is grossly inadequate, is spent on drug maintenance programs that keep users on drugs.
With so little money spent on illicit drug rehabilitation that gets users off drugs it is little wonder that this demand remains high.
This high drug demand is putting pressure on Australian hospitals and mental health programs that have to deal with the proven harms of illicit drug use.
Now it’s time to switch over to the proven drug rehabilitation programs that get users off drugs and deny the international crime syndicates of their lucrative profits.
