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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 8 Hansard (26 June) . . Page.. 2272 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

The media tends to focus attention on illicit drugs, but people are still far more likely to die from smoking and alcohol-related diseases. Tobacco smoking is the single, largest, preventable cause of premature death and disease in Australia. Each year it kills more people in Australia than the total number of people killed by alcohol, illicit drugs, AIDS, murder, suicide, road crashes, rail crashes, air crashes, poisoning, drowning, fires, falls, lightning, electrocutions, snakes, spiders and sharks.

Of all drug-related deaths, more than three-quarters are attributed to tobacco use. Tobacco smoking is estimated to kill more than 18,000 Australians each year and leave thousands of others with chronic and disabling diseases and conditions. The three major leading causes of disease and injury in Australia in 1996 were all associated with tobacco smoking. They are heart disease, stroke and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Lung cancer is the fifth leading cause of disease or injury in Australia. When we talk about drug abuse, particularly of illicit drugs, we need to be conscious of the fact that the two drugs that over and above all others cause damage, death, distress and misery are alcohol and tobacco.

A recent data release of the illicit drug reporting system indicates that, while heroin-related harms in the community may be falling in the short term, these harms are resurfacing in relation to other types of drugs, such as methamphetamines. In addition, we should never lose sight of the overwhelming majority of drug-related harms that studies such as the national drug strategy household surveys indicate stem from illicit drug use and dependency.

Ms Dundas has called to our attention that it is Drug Action Week, during which the drug and other alcohol treatment sector across Australia highlights the variety of solutions that communities are using to tackle alcohol and other drug dependence. A quick survey of the activities planned for Drug Action Week indicates that the health aspect of the treatment of drug dependency is only one dimension of the harm minimisation associated with drug use and dependency. My colleague Mr Corbell, the Minister for Education, Youth and Family Services, will speak about other important aspects, such as the role of the education system in preventing the potential harm associated with drug dependency.

I am happy to focus on the activities planned for Drug Action Week in the ACT. They demonstrate that, in addition to treatment options, there are many ways in which communities successfully minimise the harm associated with drug use and dependency. For those who are unaware, Drug Action Week is an initiative of the Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia, the national peak body for alcohol and other drug sectors in Australia. The aim of Drug Action Week is not only to generate community awareness about harm related to alcohol and other drugs and but also to highlight the solutions that communities can use to tackle these difficult issues. One way Drug Action Week assists in achieving this is through public activities organised by alcohol and other drug agencies.

Each day of Drug Action Week is given a theme to help focus the activities over the week. This year, the theme days are dedicated to prevention treatment for young people, indigenous issues, drugs and the law and drugs in the media. Last year's Drug Action Week saw over 160 activities being held nationwide with open days, seminars and launches.

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