SUBMISSION of Families and Friends for Drug Law Reform1 to the inquiry of the Australian Productivity Commission into the Social and Economic Benefits of Improving Mental Health

Families and Friends for Drug Law Reform (ACT) Inc. committed to preventing tragedy that arises from illicit drug use PO Box 7186, KALEEN ACT 2617 Email [email protected] Telephone (02) 6257 1786 Web www.ffdlr.org.au Twitter @FFDLR i. SUBMISSION of Families and Friends for Drug Law Reform 1 to the inquiry of the Australian Productivity Commission into the Social and Economic Benefits of Improving Mental Health Table of Contents INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................................................... 1 Objective of submission ........................................................................................................................ 1 Drug abuse as a mental health disorder ............................................................................................... 1 Drug abuse as a disability...................................................................................................................... 2 CORRELATION BETWEEN ADDICTION AND OTHER MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS ................................ 3 Co-occurrence of drug abuse and other mental health conditions the expectation rather than the exception ................................................................................................................................ 4 Cannabis ....................................................................................................................................... 4 Crystal methamphetamine ........................................................................................................... 5 Misuse of prescription pain medications ...................................................................................... 6 Mental disorders as predictors of drug abuse .............................................................................. 6 Co-occurrence of chronic intractable and costly social problems......................................................... 7 Drug law reform as a means of ameliorating the burden of disease attributed to mental ill health. ... 8 DRUG POLICY AS A DRIVER OF MENTAL ILLNESS .................................................................................. 8 Drug policy stimulates the supply of illicit drugs............................................................................... 8 The illicit drug trade has flourished under prohibition ................................................................. 9 New and more potent drugs brought to market ......................................................................... 10 Illicit drugs are attractive to a large proportion of the population and particularly to young adults .......................................................................................................................................... 12 1 Families and Friends for Drug Law Reform acknowledges with much gratitude the incisive comments and other help of Virginia Hart in the preparation of this submission. Bill Bush.

SUBMISSION of Families and Friends for Drug Law Reform1 to the inquiry of the Australian Productivity Commission into the Social and Economic Benefits of Improving Mental Health

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