139. Cannabis (hashish) is a widely abused drug (by smoking and orally) in all countries of the region. Cannabis is abused by people in the 20-50 age group. Its abuse is considered a great menace to social and economic development in Egypt. In Pakistan, the young population, especially students, favour cannabis smoking. Considerable numbers of drug offences involving cannabis, and seizures, particularly of liquid cannabis, also indicate the magnitude of the cannabis-related problem.
140. The abuse of psychotropic substances, particularly amphetamines and barbiturate-type drugs (methaqus lone, tranquillizers) shows an upward trend in most
countries.
141. Multiple drug abuse is energing as a new pattern of drug taking in most of the countries where significant rug abuse problem is reported.
OCEANIA
A.
The
Extent, patterns and trends of drug abuse by countries and territories
142. AUSTRALIA Multiple drug abuse seems to be the main drug abuse problem. majority of the 2,434 persons abusing opiates crally or by injection rotified by treatment agencies have taken opiates in combination with other drugs. Barbiturates, cannabis, hallucinogens and amphetamines are abused although the extent of the problem is not estimated. Amphetamines are taken orally or by injection. Abuse of opiates (mainly heroin), cannabis, amphetamines and hallucinogens is predominant in the 16-27 age group, mainly male. Barbiturate abuse is more common among people over 30 years of age, mainly females. The following problems are associated with dependence on opiates: (i) stealing, prostitution and pharmacy break-ins; (ii) unemployment; (iii) diseases such as hepatitis; (iv) deterioration of family and social relationships (because of attempts by addicts to conceal addiction, dishonesty and frequent changes of address). latter problem is also associated with the abuse of barbiturates, hallucinogens and amphetamines. Uncontrolled aggression and a diminished sense of reality are the major problems associated with amphetamine abuse. The combinations of heroin/ morphine, heroin/morphine/cannabis and opiates/me thaqualone are the most common in multiple drug abuse. According to other indices, such as increased seizures of drugs (especially liquid cannabis: 32.9 kg in 1975 as compared with 4.9 kg in 1974) it seems that the drug-related problem is greater than in previous years. pilot study aimed at estimating the drug abuse problem at the national level is being carried out.
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143. NEW ZEALAND It appears that the abuse of opiates (opium, heroin, morphine, codeine, methadone, pethidine) and amphetamines is the core of the drug abuse problem. Amphetamine abuse, as compared with information from previous reports, seems to be on the rise. Both amphetamines and heroin are abused by young people (15-25 years old). Cannabis has been abused by young people under 25 years although the extent of abuse is not determined. This is also true of LSD. Me thadone, pethidine and levorphanol are abused by persons over 25 years of age, while morphine and dextromoramide are taken by different age groups. Abuse of methylphenidate is also observed. The following drugs were often combined in multiple drug abuse: cannabis/alcohol; opiates/barbiturates; pethidine/methadone; cocaine/morphine or dextromoramide. During 1975, 2,271 persons were prosecuted for drug offences (of these, 1,773 for cannabis, 205 opiates, 156 psychotropic substances, 125 LSD and 12 salts of cocaine). This showed an increase of 67.6 per cent by comparison with 1,535 in 1974.