Topic > Case of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people...

ATSIs are stereotypically known for alcohol, drug abuse and daily smoking. There are higher rates of illicit drug use among ATSI, 24.2% had reported using illicit drugs in the twelve months prior to the survey compared to 13.0% for non-Indigenous people (Hart & etal, 2010) . Higher levels of substance abuse are significantly linked to mental health conditions and suicide in Aboriginal communities. Drug and alcohol use is also strongly linked to violence; in particular, domestic violence among ATSI communities. ATSI populations are associated with higher rates of criminal offending that often lead to incarceration. In Australia, ATSIs made up approximately 28% of the prison population in 2015 (Australian Bureau of Statistics,