Australian fetuses could become alcoholics and drug addicts before they even leave the womb, new research shows.

The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) at the University of NSW reveals that genetics and family history can increase the risk of young Australians developing addictions.

NDARC director Professor Michael Farrell at a speech to be delivered on Tuesday night will say that the research helps to determine which genetic and social factors lead to drug and alcohol abuse, as well as mental health problems later in life.

'While we need to recognise there are varying degrees of mental ill health and that it's a complex issue, research confirms that early detection of certain contributing factors is possible,' Dr Farrell said in a statement.

'With the growing trend for buying drugs online and using synthetic drugs or legal highs' among young Australians, now is the time to focus on these solutions.'

The UNSW Medicine Dean's Lecture will address a range of issues affecting young people, including the self-harm epidemic, the effects of adolescent exposure to drugs and alcohol on the wider community and how early intervention might save them, as well as offering preventative solutions for mental illness and risky behaviours.

One in two young Australians suffer from mental illness, said Pat McGorry, Professor of Youth Mental Health at the University of Melbourne.

He said studies indicated that mental illness experienced in their childhood can impact people's jobs and social lives well into their 30s, including having a lower earning capacity and fewer friends.

Mental health costs the Australian economy $7 billion a year, a figure that is set to double over the next 20 years.

The issue doesn't discriminate and can affect any household, said Professor McGorry.

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Genetics key to addicted children

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