Topic: 2024-Substance Abuse
Country: Australia
Delegate Name: Maizie Van Ausdall
GLIMUN 2024
ECOSOC: World Health Organization
Country: Australia
Delegate: Maizie Van Ausdall
Fishers High School
Topic B: Substance Abuse
Australia has one of the highest percentages of individuals who use recreational and illicit drugs, making it an issue of upmost concern for the country’s delegation. The rate of substance abuse in Australia has increased since the early 2000s. The most commonly used illicit drug is cannabis, which is available for medicinal with prescriptions, with cocaine and ecstasy coming second and third with around half as much usage among the population and much more infrequently. In 2022, there were 1,693 deaths caused by drug use, and the majority of these were caused by opioids. As with worldwide substance abuse as a whole, the majority, around 2/3s of these deaths were male and 32%, the highest percent, occurred among individuals with lower socio-economic statuses or those living in disadvantaged areas. Occurring more commonly than deaths are hospitalizations, with 135,000 in 2021-2022. For Australia, the most prevalent and harmful substances that are abused tend to be opioids and amphetamines, mostly methamphetamines. Opioid abuse frequently occurs by abuse of prescription pain killers. Statistically 1 out of every 10 people prescribed an opioid become addicted and 69% of drug related deaths in 2015 were caused by prescription drugs. For opioids in particular, Australia advocates for a solution comprised of better regulation and surveillance of prescribed drugs in all countries that have populations struggling with prescription drug abuse disorder.
The Australian government is focused on minimizing substance abuse by using three pillars: Demand Reduction, Supply Reduction, and Harm Reduction. The way to achieve these goals is through initiatives comprised of elements such as drug treatment programs and awareness campaigns, prevention of production of illegal drugs, and various harm prevention programs, respectively. For the harm reductions pillar, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has been testing and incorporating leading programs that provide services to prevent spread of infectious diseases, like HIV and Hepatitis, by offering services such as Needle and Syringe programs, which are intending to prevent sharing of needles and syringes, supervised drug consumption facilities and injecting centers, and Drug Checking Sites, areas where an individual can test their drugs to ensure the purity of drugs and pills. This services, particularly the Needle and Syringe program, have proven to be successful in reducing abuse. The delegation of Australia highly recommends the incorporation of these programs by other countries who are able.
Australia believes that the best approach to ending substance abuse is to acknowledge and reconcile the uneven distribution of drug abuse amongst males and individuals living in disadvantaged areas, respectively. In order to do this for all countries suffering from high drug abuse rates in their populations, Australia recommends the integration of programs, such as those mentioned above. Such programs can prove to be very expensive, especially rehabilitation centers, making it the duty of all countries a part of the WHO to work together and contribute for a better future for all.
Sources
Topic B:
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/illicit-use-of-drugs/illicit-drug-use
https://www.addictioncenter.com/addiction/addiction-in-australia/?scrlybrkr=e447704f
https://www.thecabinsydney.com.au/blog/why-is-australia-the-1-country-for-drug-abusers/
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/alcohol/alcohol-tobacco-other-drugs-australia/contents/harm-minimisation/harm-reduction
