Heroin drought

A recent report from the United Nations predicts a decrease in opium production in Afghanistan.

Opium production in Afghanistan has decreased by one third in the last two years.

(Source: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2010 Afghanistan Opium Survey, 10 February 2010).

Australian troops help take control of Marjah in Helmand province in Afghanistan where opium production is concentrated.

(Source: Melbourne Herald Sun, 15 February 2010).

Opium cultivation in Afghanistan produces 93 per cent of the heroin trafficked around the world.

(Source: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, World Drug Report 2009, 24 June 2009).

DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL COMMENTS-

This easing of world heroin production is likely to lead to another heroin drought in Australia.

The effect of this heroin drought is likely to mean higher prices for heroin on the streets of our capital cities.

This means that less illicit drug money will be available for terrorists.

In the past when heroin was in short supply hard core addicts resorted to other illicit drugs to use rather than heroin.

Under Australia’s international illicit drug obligations we are obliged to reduce the demand for illicit drugs.

Now is an excellent time to introduce an intensive drug demand reduction campaign with a diversion of identified drug users into rehabilitation to get them clean.