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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-12-02 Daily Xml
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Illicit Drugs

The Hon. J.A. DARLEY (15:46): I rise today to speak about drug use, and particularly their use in conjunction with music festivals. The Stereosonic music festival is currently touring the country and is due in Adelaide this coming Saturday. Tragically, as most in this place would know, a 25-year-old pharmacist died after allegedly taking a number of illicit drugs at the music festival's Sydney stop last weekend.

It is a calamity that we are needlessly losing so many young lives from this drugs scourge. Without meaning to revisit the 'good old days', this phenomenon is particularly alarming for me, as these drugs simply did not exist when I was young. Yes, drugs such as heroin, marijuana and cocaine existed; however, illicit chemically manufactured drugs in their current form (namely, ecstasy, ice and speed) did not exist.

Drugs are now mixed and cut with an immeasurable number of substances, to the point where people simply do not know what they are taking. Drugs are also more potent, which is alarming, as not only are more people consuming them, but they are consuming more of them in one sitting. The combination of increased strength and dosage is a recipe for disaster. The availability and accessibility of these products is extremely broad, and we are seeing more and more young people experimenting with illicit drugs.

I understand it is not difficult for individuals to obtain whatever substance they seek, and for many it is their preference to take drugs rather than have alcohol on a night out. Drugs are cheaper and last longer for a similar effect. Kids simply see it as being economical to take drugs, but the real cost may be that they pay with their lives.

This increasing popularity of dance music festivals also contributes to the widespread consumption of drugs. There is an anecdotal correlation between dance music and drug taking. Whereas previously music festivals featured bands, dance music and DJs have increased in popularity in recent years. Festivals such as the Big Day Out and Groovin' The Moo anecdotally have a lower incidence of drug use when compared to the Future Music Festival and Stereosonic.

Most disturbing is the fact that a festival like Future Music is an all-ages event, which means that not only minors are exposed to drugs and drug-affected individuals, but it normalises the behaviour from a younger age. I am advised that because minors know the control of alcohol at events will be strictly monitored, they are likely to turn to taking drugs as an alternative.

Similarly, the high cost of alcohol at events makes taking drugs a more attractive alternative for many. The picture I paint is a bleak one. I fear that things will only get worse before they get better. There are already numerous education and awareness campaigns; however, they do not seem to be effective. It is easy for me to stand here and condemn drugs, and I wish that finding a solution to this problem would be equally as easy, but it is not. It is devastating to see so many people affected by this issue when it is completely preventable. I only hope the issue will come to a tipping point soon and the attitude towards these substances changes for the good.

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