Rising cannabis use in indigenous communities

Between five and six years ago, 31 per cent of males and 8 per cent of females (over 15 years of age) in the region's communities used cannabis. By 1999 this had increased to 55 per cent of males and 13 per cent of females in the region.

Mr Clough said, "Community-based studies suggest that this high prevalence of cannabis use was achieved by the rapid development of trafficking to eastern Arnhem Land communities with enhanced connections to suppliers outside the region.

"Data from one community suggest that between 1999 and 2000, men using cannabis doubled and cannabis use emerged among women in that community for the first time."

Recent data from two other localities in eastern Arnhem Land showed that prevalence of cannabis use is now very high, with from 62 per cent to 76 per cent of males and 9 per cent to 35 per cent of females (aged 13-36) having used cannabis within the past year. Most of these had used it within the past month (94 per cent).

These rates are higher, especially in males, than for similar age groups in the whole of the NT, where 34 per cent to 41 per cent of males and 33 per cent of females used cannabis within the past year.

The rapid expansion of cannabis use has compounded existing patterns of other substance use. A majority of cannabis users use alcohol (65 per cent) and tobacco (92 per cent) and around half have a history of sniffing petrol (52 per cent).

Mr Clough said there is also isolated evidence for amphetamine abuse in low numbers of individuals, all of whom were cannabis users.

Health and social consequences include a likely increased risk of drug and alcohol psychoses in users, family violence and community disruption, self-harm and suicide and the economic impacts of a novel illicit drug trade. Preliminary research suggests that 44 per cent of users exhibited dose-related cannabis dependency, 41 per cent cannabis-induced anxiety disorders, and 19 per cent exhibited mood disorders including suicidal ideation.

In concluding, Mr Clough said the research group has prepared an educational intervention about the effects of cannabis use for these communities. This will be implemented and evaluated over the next one to two years. Mr Clough stressed that early intervention treatments for cannabis abusers are urgently required but are beyond the scope of the research.

"Interventions designed to reduce demand and to minimise harms to communities and the individual are required to complement increased efforts in the NT to control illicit drug supplies," Mr Clough said.

The Medical Journal of Australia is a publication of the Australian Medical Association.

CONTACT: Alan Clough

Northern Territory University

(08) 8987 0479 (B/H); (0417) 844 161 (A/H)

Sarah Crichton

AMA, Public Affairs

(0419) 440 076