Changing addictive behaviours can be very difficult and sometimes impossible, so that living with the addiction might be the best outcome. This diagram describes cycle of change. Think about a time you have made a change in your life, and beginning at “Contemplation”, review your “change” experience and see how it might fit into this model.
The most recent data reported The Social Costs of Alcohol, Tobacco, Opioids, Methamphetamine and Cannabis in Australia (Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia, Nov 2020) tobacco and alcohol have the highest tangible social costs (close to $34 billion combined). Legal drug use accounts for 69%, and illicit drugs account for 31%.
Australia’s main tax bases are fuel, tobacco and alcohol. Tobacco tax is the fourth largest individual tax collected at an estimated $15 billion.
Here are the Powerpoint presentations drawn on during the October session:
Jane Rushworth