National Amphetamine-Type Stimulant Strategy Background Paper

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the questionnaire in February 2006 had injected at least one drug in the six months prior to
the survey and the most commonly injected drugs were crystal methamphetamine, speed
and steroids (Zablotska et al., 2006).
The AIDS Council of NSW (ACON) has undertaken significant work in addressing drug use
for these communities. Research identifies that gay and lesbian people have higher rates of
drug use than the general population (Degenhardt, 2005). There are varying reasons as to
why this is the case. The written submission from ACON commented that, historically, the
gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender (GLBT) community has met within bars and clubs that
can be conducive to the use of alcohol and illicit drugs. In addition, these substances may
play a pivotal role in self and community management of the impacts of discrimination and
oppression. Predisposing factors in substance use may therefore include increased risktaking
behaviours, higher levels of depression, and a social subculture that incorporates
substance use.
Illicit drug use is consistently reported as higher among homosexual than heterosexual
females. In relation to drug and alcohol use, homosexual females were significantly more
likely to report higher levels of risky drug use compared to heterosexual females (Hillier et
al., 2003). This included risky alcohol use (7% compared to 3.9%), marijuana use (58.2%
compared to 21.5%), use of other illicit drugs (40.7% compared to 10.2) and injecting drug
use (10.8% compared to 1.2%). However, the second national report on the sexuality, health
and well-being of same sex attracted young Australians, noted a decline in the use of all
drugs between 1998 and 2004 (Hillier et al., 2005) . The proportion of those injecting drugs
decreased from 11% in 1998 to 4% in 2004, and in 1998 and 2004 young females were more
likely to have used marijuana and tobacco and to have injected drugs than young males.
Recommendations for support for this group came from ACON who requested that GLBT
be explicitly identified as target groups in the Strategy. ACON cited evidence from the
NSW Health (2005) publication, ‘Amphetamines, Ecstasy and Cocaine: A Prevention and
Treatment Plan 2005-09’, and suggested this be reflected in the National Framework.
Additionally, ACON recommended that any funding arising for initiatives should include
allocation for approaches that specifically target GLBT people and any programs should be
developed with community based organisations.
Use in the workplace
The use of alcohol and illicit drugs in relation to work can compromise safety and
productivity as much through mental and physical impairment as through absenteeism.
Bywood and colleagues (2006) drew on the 2004 NDSHS survey of 29,445 Australians
of whom approximately 50% over 14 years of age were employed to explore the issue of
drug use in the workforce. The study found that, in the previous 12 months, those in the
paid workforce were more likely to have used illicit drugs (17.3%) than those not in the paid
workforce (11.8%). This was true for amphetamine and ecstasy, with use of both these
drugs in the previous 12 months reported by around 4% of those in the paid workforce
compared to around 2% of those not in the paid workforce. Significantly more male (20.3%)
than female (13.4%) workers reported using any illicit drug, and 12% of male and 9.1% of
female workers, aged 18-29 years, reported use of amphetamine.