is a time to make every effort to prevent and reduce drug use, but there are those in our community who advocate just the opposite, including some in our legal system.

Most Australians like a ‘fair go’ and many are compassionate enough to help in times of crisis, says Jo Baxter, Executive Officer, Drug Free Australia (DFA). However, DFA is concerned that sometimes compassion can be misplaced – particularly when dealing with repeat drug traffickers. Our research indicates that there is a tendency to give those who sell illegal drugs extremely light penalties. In addition, in all states and territories, the media is full of cases of those who have knowingly pushed drugs within our communities and have received, in return, a ‘slap on the wrist’, only to continue their illegal practices again and again. When it comes to cannabis, the most widely used and increasingly harmful illicit drug – it seems that infringement notices are the order of the day.

As Major General Peter Phillips, former RSL National President and now ACT Director for Drug Free Australia points out, ‘one recent case in point is that of Andrew Paul Ryan, a 28 year old, who was convicted on three counts of drug trafficking and one count of possessing a drug of dependence after police found 1900 ecstasy tablets and 16g of meth in his home. The penalty – a mere 18 months weekend detention! What message is this for Andrew? Where is the true compassion for his rehabilitation and his future? Most importantly, where is the true compassion for those victims of his criminal activity – those who take the drugs he pushes? We need to be mindful of the reality of the culture of Australian illicit drug use. There is a level of acceptability that these drugs are viable alternatives for so called ‘recreational use’. Why would this not be the case, when many in our legal system appear to be treating drug trafficking so casually?’

‘Let’s look at the stark reality’, says Jo Baxter. ‘Latest figures show that Australia remains the highest of all OECD countries in prevalence of illicit drug use. The 2006 World Report by the UN Office of Drugs and Crime shows that the prevalence of Cannabis use by Australians is 13.3%, which is higher than the USA and twice the European average. Amphetamines rate at 3.8%, which is more than double the rate in the USA and UK. When it comes to Ecstasy, Australia has the highest usage in the world. The 2007 Household Survey on illicit drug trends indicates that there is a rise in cocaine use. And these are the illegal drugs’.
 
Recently it was indicated at an ACT Government forum that the ACT has a higher rate of Ecstasy usage than any other Australian State or Territory (and second highest for Cannabis and amphetamines). That means Canberra can claim the title of Ecstasy Capital of the World!  Importantly, people should know about the harms of Ecstasy. There have been significant deaths in Australia and overseas through use of this drug and the latest research by Dr Maartje de Win (University of Amsterdam) shows that people who use ecstasy for the first time could suffer impaired memory and harm to their brains, even with low doses.
Therefore, on many counts, we need to question the wisdom of ineffective penalties, particularly with regard to those drug traffickers who continue to re-offend.