History of Drug Use in Australia

Question 1

What is a (psychoactive) drug?

Answer 1

Chemical substances that affect the function of the central nervous system, altering perception, mood or consciousness

Question 2

How long has alcohol consumption been around?

Answer 2

At least 8000 years

Question 3

How long has Tobacco been around?

Answer 3

Thousands of years

Question 4

How long has Opium been around?

Answer 4

7000 years ago in Mesopotamia

Question 5

How long has Hallucinogen use been around?

Answer 5

9000 years

Question 6

What were drugs historically used for (e.g. entheogens)?

Answer 6

Ritualistic, ceremonial or medicinal use

Question 7

How have the views on substance use shifted over time (e.g. coffee)?

Answer 7

Seen as bad and immoral to a normal part of society

Question 8

Explain the shift in drug use during colonisation

Answer 8

• Aboriginals had limited contact with drugs besides some plant-based stimulants and depressants
• The first fleet brought medicines, drugs and hemp seeds
• early governments supported hemp growing (popular medicine)
• Late 1800s drug use was mainly opium and cocaine-based stimulants

Question 9

In the 1800s, what was heroin sold as?

Answer 9

Cough medicine

Question 10

In the 1800s, what was Morphine used to treat?

Answer 10

Children teething

Question 11

In the 1800s, what was cocaine used to cure?

Answer 11

• Toothaches

- Dandruff

Question 12

How long has heavy drinking been a cultural norm?

Answer 12

Since colonisation

Question 13

List the movements about alcohol over the 1800s

Answer 13

1808: Rum Rebellion
1830s: ‘the Temperance Movement’ peaking during World War I/Great Depression
1837: Laws prevent Aboriginals from accessing alcohol

Question 14

When were Australia’s first laws prohibiting drug use introduced? and what did they prohibit?

Answer 14

• 1905 Immigration Act

- Followed by-laws prohibiting Aboriginal use of Opium

Question 15

When was cannabis viewed as outlawed “New Drug that Maddens Victims”

Answer 15

1938

1936-39: Reefer Madness Campaign

Question 16

What drug patterns occurred during the 1960s-70s?

Answer 16

• Few law enforcement resources devoted to policing drug laws
• Increase in drug use (heroin, cannabis, LSD)

Question 17

What were the underlying reasons for the increase in drug use during the 1960s-70s?

Answer 17

• Part of political and social opposition to Vietnam War
• Drug trafficking developed
• Growing financial capacity and increase in unemployment of young people
• Most Australian states moved to prohibitionist and criminal-justice orientation
• Nixon’s war on drugs in America
• Royal commissions

Question 18

What approach did Australia’s drug policy apply in 1970/80s?

Answer 18

• mirrored the tough on drugs approach of the US
• conformed with international approaches of GB and USA
• 1985: Policy of harm-minimisation introduced

Question 19

What drugs have increased in lifetime and recent use between 2016-19?

Answer 19

• Cocaine
• Hallucinogens
• Inhalants
• Cannabis
• Ketamine
• Ecstasy
• Steroids

Question 20

What drugs have decreased in lifetime and recent use between 2016-19?

Answer 20

• Pain-killers and opioids

- New and emerging psychoactive substances

Question 21

What are some strategies implemented to prevent Tobacco use?

Answer 21

• Packaging
• Increased Taxes
• Increased restrictions on places of use
• e-cigerettes

Question 22

When did President Nixon declare a War on Drugs’?

Answer 22

1971

Question 23

What are the 7 themes common to drug wars? (Morgan et al)

Answer 23

1. The notion of public menace
2. Political interests
3. Increased criminal justice response
4. Influence of media coverage
5. Portrayal of drug use as infectious
6. The need to protect vulnerable target groups
7. Aggressive, militaristic terminology