BigTrancer
Bluelight Crew
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Kids caught in drugs misery
By Jessica Lawrence
18jul04
A STAGGERING number of young people have been caught up in a flood of hard drugs on Brisbane's streets, campaigners say.
New figures from welfare groups reveal the shocking truth behind Queensland's worsening youth crisis. Youth workers say there has been a huge increase in the number of young people using heroin in the past three months.
They say more are becoming homeless through abuse and violence, with most turning to illicit and legal drugs to cope.
And they warn the average age of kids in crisis seeking help is getting younger.
Figures from Brisbane Youth Service's Drug and Alcohol Survey from December 2003 – their most recent – show the earliest age of first-time intravenous drug use is now just eight; for first-time solvents-sniffers it's seven.
And they reveal a despairing lack of services available to young homeless people and those addicted to drugs.
There are only 15 beds available in supervised accommodation in Brisbane for homeless youth, catering for a population estimated to be at least 350.
The most common drugs used are solvents, marijuana, speed (amphetamines), prescription pills and heroin.
Of the youths surveyed, 70 per cent were injecting drugs such as heroin, with the average age of first-time drug users 14½.
The survey interviewed 50 youths aged between 12 and 25. Most were homeless and relied on Youth Allowance for income.
One was introduced to injecting drugs by a parent. Half had parents who were drug users.
Brisbane Youth Services director Michael Tansky said the organisation was providing food, showers and support to about 200 youngsters every month.
Survey results found 60 per cent of the drug users had sought help for their addiction. However, Mr Tansky said, a lack of resources for young people addicted to drugs meant many were fending for themselves.
"The problem of young kids injecting drugs is getting worse . . . and problematic drug use is getting worse," Mr Tansky said. "But we don't have anywhere to place children and teenagers.
"There are not enough foster carers, but there are no alternatives and there is very little supervised residential care. These kids are at risk from blood-borne infections and accidental overdose.
"Of the 42 per cent of those surveyed who had used a dirty needle, the main reason stated was that they didn't have access to clean syringes.
"They're taking drugs as a way of coping because they are traumatised . . . and they get into a pattern which is habitual and destructive.
"And we are seeing a lot more females coming to us for assistance than we have in the past, and more are becoming pregnant and having children."
Salvation Army Youth Outreach Centre spokeswoman Chris Cohen said heroin use was "going through the roof".
Ms Cohen said the centre had seen a 20 per cent increase in the past five months in the numbers of street kids injecting drugs.
Centre workers were collecting up to 100 needles every two days from locations in the city centre.
"Six months ago there was a little bit of use of (heroin) amongst teenagers, but speed was the preferred drug.
Now it's unbelievable the number of kids aged 15 to 19 who are using heroin.
"We are seriously concerned. These are not just kids from violent backgrounds, but kids from good homes.
"There are girls on the street who are pregnant and even those who've got their babies with them. It's not unusual to have mums as young as 14 and 15."
The survey results also show young people are turning to crime and prostitution to support their habits.
Almost 40 per cent have dealt drugs, 6 per cent have engaged in prostitution, almost 50 per cent have stolen and 40 per cent have committed break and enters.
Thirty per cent have spent time in jail or detention for drug-related offences.
Mr Tansky said young people who became homeless and used drugs often were exposed to violence and abuse within the home.
Many homeless kids came from the outer suburbs and regional areas and had no social network to support them when their home environment broke down.
"Kids believe it's their fault and they can't run away, so the way they cope is to switch off," Mr Tansky said.
"They're not growing up in safe family environments.
"Their ability to grow up normally is affected.
"They get expelled from school. Then they end up on the streets mixing with other kids in the same boat, unsupervised. They become homeless and then are introduced to a drug-using culture as a means of survival and coping."
The youth workers called for an urgent review of services available to young people in crisis, labelling the situation "scandalous".
"Some homeless kids are severely disturbed and need a high level of supervision," Mr Tansky said. "Fostering is not always appropriate for teenagers.
"Youth shelters only offer a short-term stay and won't take them if they are drug users.
"With those who are addicted to drugs, it's difficult to get them in to adult facilities.
"We need receiving and assessment centres in every state, and then ways of putting these children into safe environments.
"It's only then they can start to think about finishing their education or doing a traineeship."
To Ms Cohen, the situation is "just nuts" and there seems to be zero interest in providing support.
"We need to teach these kids life skills and help them re-enter the community.
"Otherwise they are going to turn into the older homeless people that we also see on our streets."
From: http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,10170140%5E421,00.html
BigTrancer
i am actually in the center of brisbane city 7 days a week and while i see these homeless kids around i was in no way under the impression that there were 13 year olds shooting heroin. this is disturbing news but i cant help but find it to be somewhat misleading. i personally know some of these homeless youths and theres certainly no signs of heroin use with them. they dont have any money for it. if anything they are dropping pills but not anything much harder than that. 
