People Planet Peace

 Australia's vulnerable and disadvantaged caught in spiral of drug use

 

The relationship between drug use and disadvantage in Australia is inextricably linked. Those who are most vulnerable include: young people, indigenous, the homeless, people in jail and those who are living with mental illness.

 

The Anex 09 Australian Drugs Conference – Drugs in Hard Times will gather industry experts and representatives from drugs, health, welfare, justice and police services from non-government and government to spotlight the issues and feedback to government on gaps in policy and provide research and information from the frontline.

 

Illicit drug use is significantly higher in some of Australia's key minority and disadvantaged communities:

• Conservative estimates suggest that drug use among the homeless is ten times higher than that of the broader community
• Recent illicit drug use is significantly higher amongst people who are unemployed or unable to work than the employed, students and those engaged in home duties
• The connection between incarceration, drug use and reoffending, shows that eight in every 10 reoffending prisoners have a history of injecting drug use

 

There are more than 50 speakers who are available for interview depending on your specific interest. We have tabulated this into the attached Speaker Spreadsheet for quick reference. Within the spreadsheet are abstracts and biographies cross referenced to the topics/research papers that the speakers are presenting on.

 

Please contact Daya Lichtenstein or myself at the conference press office to coordinate your story interest and interviews on 02 9212 3888.

 

We look forward to working with you on coverage of the Anex 09 Australian Drugs Conference.

 

Jenny Muir and Daya Lichtenstein

Primary Communication

 

Tel:        61 2 9212 3888

Email:    jmuir@primary-pr.com

www.primary-pr.com