I always think we Australian's are a socially progressive nation. If we find problems we discuss and fix them. So it was a bit of a shock to see this:

"Australia has one of the highest rates of illicit drug use in the world, in fact we are leaders in both cannabis and amphetamine use."
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/healthreport/stories/2009/2488283.htm

I have never been much of a drug user of any sort - legal or illegal, so I have a fairly simplistic view of all this. Something along lines of nicotine is a poison at any level so its bad, alcohol fine when used moderately and most people seem to be able to do that, so OK, ditto for cannabis and so on. I guess this reflects how concerned I would be if I saw my kids using them. If saw them using amphetamines I would be sleepless at night with worry. And now I learn we lead the world in amphetamine use. Not Cambodia, not Afghanistan, not some European country with weak drug laws. It is we, Australia who are the worlds leader. My god, what sort of world have we created for our kids?

Then I happen across this:

"A new Australian study has found that the number of newborns suffering serious drug withdrawal symptoms is now more than 40 times higher than in 1980."
http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/04/23/alarming.increase.drug.affected.newborns

This is a study of Australian newborns, so it is Australian kids who are 40 times more likely to be addicted at birth now than when I grew up. Presumably the rest of the world hasn't done so badly.

Enough. The point has been made. The people at the helm at that time - us in other words, have ballsed it up badly. But I am curious. How many of you are aware of our legacy?

906 babies with Neonatal Withdrawal Syndrome out of 637195 births over 25 years. 36 a year. Easy to make a small increase look bad. What was the population growth or the change in birthrate over that time?

I think these people are misrepresenting the statistics to try and increase their funding. It pisses me off when people do this. There is no need to lie and sensationalise such a serious problem. It only makes them look foolish and untrustworthy and gives their opponents ammunition to use against them.

mikk: "What was the population growth or the change in birthrate over that time?"

Birth rate is unchanged.
http://abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/allprimarymainfeatures/FF9E15176D6887D8CA2568A9001393B2?opendocument

Population is now 21,740,000, was 14,807,000, so growth is 32%.
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs%40.nsf/94713ad445ff1425ca25682000192af2/1647509ef7e25faaca2568a900154b63?OpenDocument
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/ABS@.nsf/2f762f95845417aeca25706c00834efa/e2f62e625b7855bfca2570ec0073cdf6!OpenDocument

So the 4 in 1980 should be roughly 5 now, all things being equal. 40 isn't in the ballpark.

In unrelated news, which searching for those figures I happened across the projected population for Brisbane in 2050. It will be roughly 4..5 million. OMG. I thought the traffic was bad now.

http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/3222.0

I agree with Mikk, it's a stats beat-up.
Consider this, that the stats were garnered in WA, which has a huge problem with alcohol-affected births in the northern indigenous communities, unlike most of the rest of Oz, so surely that fact alone would have skewed the numbers?
And again, Oz as the worst affected place for recreational drugs? Another statistical statement, and wholly un-provable, plus when it comes to drug-related issues, there's so many vested interests putting out their spin that any stats need to be taken with a pinch of salt, to say the least.

While not seeking to underplay Australia's drug issues I had always thought New Zealand and Canada were greater users of cannabis per head of population than Australia so I was surprised to to hear we topped the list.

A little googling/wikipediaing found this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annual_cannabis_use_by_country

I'm wondering what statisics were being quoted?

Dear MIKK,
Here is some more statistics for you to think on.
1% of the population is homosexual. 22,000,000 x 1% = 220,000.
.01% of the homosexual population have children. 22,000 x .01% = 22
They want the government to change the law so they can have access to free IVM. Much cheeper if they use a man the same as the rest of society. What is the cost in Dollars and cents for Aust to become a republic. I have always had to invest my life in any money I have. Why should minority groups get a free ride at the expence of the rest
BECAUSE nothing is free in this world someone always pays. A thief justifys his actions by saying he needs it. A drugie says he is not hurtng others but the price is paid by the ones who Love them, ie. family.