| Chronology |
|---|
|
1821 |
Publication of De Quincey's book, Confessions
of an
English Opium Eater, the first personal
addiction story.
|
|
1898 |
Heroin first marketed by Bayer Company as
a 'non-addictive drug' and a 'cure for
morphinism'.
|
1924 |
April 3, a group of American congressmen held an official hearing to
consider the future of heroin. "Virtually every "fact"
testified to under oath by the medical and criminological experts in 1924
... was unsupported by any sound evidence." Nick Davies, The
Gardian June 14 2001. The war against drugs was born.
|
1918 to 1933 |
Eighteenth Amendment. US 'prohibition'
period.
|
|
1935 |
Founding of A.A. in Ohio, USA, by Bill W and Dr Bob.
|
|
1953 |
Publication of Junkie by William S. Burroughs.
|
|
1953 |
Banning of heroin in Australia (against
medical advice).
|
|
1961 |
The Single Convention of UN consolidated bans
on non-medical use of heroin and opium in signatory
countries.
|
|
1964 |
Royal College of Physicians report blames
tobacco for lung cancer.
|
|
1965 |
First R&R personnel come
to Sydney from Vietnam.
|
|
1965 |
Dole's report on success of methadone
treatment.
|
|
1969 |
First Australian patients treated with methadone.
|
|
1980 |
First cases of HIV/AIDS recognised.
|
|
1985 |
Harm minimization and methadone adopted
by Australian Special Premiers Conference in
strategy against HIV.
|
|
1990 |
Hepatitis C becomes major concern amongst
drug users.
|
|
1993 |
Study of 150 NSW heroin related deaths shows
that only 2% were currently enrolled in
methadone treatment.
|
|
1995 |
Northern Territory becomes third
jurisdiction (after ACT and SA) to
decriminalise personal use of cannabis.
|
|
1996 |
Tobacco accepted as addictive by US President Clinton.
|
|
1996 |
Over 17,000 Australians on methadone treatment
in all jurisdictions except Northern Territory.
|
|
1996 |
Over 18,000 Australians die from tobacco
related illnesses.
|