FACT: drug-taking in Australia

Use of cannabis - percentage of population aged 15+ responding they had used cannabis in the previous twelve months, 1999

1. New Zealand 22.2
2. Australia 17.9
3. USA 12.3
4. UK 9.0
5. Switzerland 8.5

Use of amphetamines - percentage of population aged 15+ responding they had used amphetamines in the previous twelve months, 1999

1. Australia 3.6
2. UK 3.0
3. New Zealand 2.5
4. Switzerland 0.8

Tiffen and Gittens point out that "although it is difficult to know the reasons for these figures, it is also the case that the countries that are highest on self-professed drug-taking are among those where government social expenditure is least and social inequality greatest. It would be unwise to accept the Australian figures on self-confessed drug-taking uncritically. It would be equally unwise to simply dismiss them as an unreliable aberration." (my emphasis)

(Source: Tiffen and Gittens, pp. 224-225)

D'you think Tourism Australia would consider my catchy new slogan? "Come down under. Then try to repress that you're actually here"?