NCJ Number
196962
Journal
Substance Use & Misuse Volume: 37 Issue: 5-7 Dated: 2002 Pages: 631-661
Date Published
2002
Length
31 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the relationship of drug use with the social and economic characteristics of rural communities in New South Wales (NSW), Australia.
Abstract
The rural portion of New South Wales is a large sparsely settled region. Most of its rural residents live in or near small agricultural or coastal towns. Agriculture is the traditional multigenerational economic base in most rural Australian communities. Data from the 1996 Australian Census of Population and Housing, and data on drug-related offenses from the NSW police between 1995 and 1999 were analyzed. The results support the hypothesis that an absence of social cohesion was associated with an increase in crimes, but much less so for drug-related violations. Crucial social and economic factors of rural communities that were associated with drug-related violations were identified. Drug use was related to social and economic structures that varied across identifiable types of rural geographic locations. Rural drug use is a complex phenomenon that merits complex explanations. There was a large diversity in the relationship between social and geographic factors and drug use in rural Australia. The finding that even small inland towns have rates of drug-related violations similar to other areas indicates that small size of town is important, because other economic and social factors are present in those locations. Peer groups are the link within community structure for becoming a drug violator. The presence and characteristics of peer groups that accept drug-related violations varies in different types of communities. The relationship of police to the local community strongly affects how they enforce against drug-related violations. Drug use in rural Australia is now widespread, complementing the presence of alcohol. Rural drug-related violations are more common among places that have higher than average incomes and residents who were born overseas. Additional research is needed on the relationship between substance abuse and the use of health services. 3 figures, 2 tables, 60 references