MEDIA RELEASE

NICK XENOPHON M.L.C.

INDEPENDENT NO POKIES MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

25 October 2005

TOP FORENSIC PSYCHIATRIST REVEALS:

THE SHOCKING LINK BETWEEN DRUG USE AND MENTAL ILLNESS

One of the State’s leading forensic psychiatrists has revealed – following his r evie w of over 2000 South Australians he has assessed – the disturbing link between drug use and mental illness.

Dr Craig Raeside, a forensic psychiatrist who practises extensively in the criminal justice system, has recently completed a r evie w of over 2000 people he assessed from 2001 to 2005 who were charged with criminal offences ranging from shoplifting to murder.

Dr Raeside recorded the type of drug taken as well as the prevalence of mental illness and drug use. The figures he collated show both high rates of drug use and mental illness amongst those charged.

DRUG USE IN ASSESSMENTS 2001 – 2005

Offenders

	Marijuana	Amphetamines	Heroin
No. Assessed	2010	2009	2001
Users	1532	1182	580
%	76.22%	58.84%	28.99%

Psychiatric Diagnosis

	Marijuana	Amphetamines	Heroin
No. of Users	1532	1182	580
Mental Illness	931	840	550
%	60.77%	71.07%	94.83%

Dr Raeside said:

“These figures show very high rates of both mental illness and drug use of those before the Courts”.

“While these figures relate to a particular sub-group of the population, it raises serious questions about the need to address drug use in tackling the prevalence of mental illness in the community with all its unfortunate consequences.”

“I am convinced that if you significantly reduce the level of such drug use in the community, you will see a substantial reduction in both mental illness and crime.”

“What I have observed in the last two decades is that the mental health system has come under increasing pressure because of dramatically increased levels of drug use.”

Dr Raeside also emphasised the need for better coordination between mental health services in SA and drug and alcohol services to tackle the problem more effectively.

No Pokies MLC Nick Xenophon approached Dr Raeside for the information following the release of last week’s Mental Health Council of Australia’s report – Not for Service – a scathing indictment of Australia ’s mental health system. Mr Xenophon said:

“It’s time Governments around the country – and particularly our State Government – woke up to the alarming link between drug use and mental illness. When OECD figures point to Australia having the highest levels of cannabis and amphetamine use of countries surveyed, there is an obvious link between that and our mental health crisis.”

Mr Xenophon called for the Government to release all data on the link between mental illness and drug use, including any upward trends of mental illness since the increase in drug use, particularly amphetamines.

The figures obtained by Mr Xenophon will be discussed at The People’s Drug Summit to be held this weekend in Adelaide , organised by Nick Xenophon and Paul Madden, a high profile advocate in the community sector.

Written and authorised by Nick Xenophon, 653 Lower North East Road, Paradise, SA 5075