PARENTS are being urged to be extra vigilant following an alarming rise in the number of young people using mind-altering drugs. The warning comes from Paul Spanjar, treatment director at a Bournemouth drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre at which celebrities including football legend Paul Gascoigne and DJ Norman Cook have sought help to conquer addictions. Providence Projects are so concerned by increased numbers of teenagers using ketamine or mephedrone they are offering advice to families on how to spot the tell-tale signs.
Mr Spanjar said: “We’ve heard from frightened mothers about 16, 17 and 18-year-olds ending up in A&E departments with bladder and heart problems which can prove fatal. “These new drugs are having a huge effect on children from middle-class families. Recently a young male model, who had been using mephedrone, passed out at a gym. "Fortunately his family were able to pay for help and he has been able to return to working with fashion houses. “Sadly in Bournemouth, unless you’ve committed a crime, you are not going to get into rehabilitation, unless you can afford it. “Most parents don’t know much about drugs. Probably they haven’t even heard of ketamine or mephedrone, which are very cheap. “We’ve had panic-stricken families ringing up after finding substances in their children’s rooms and noticing a change in their moods and behaviour. “The signs and symptoms are quite clear.”
Mr Spanjar stressed that the drugs become even more dangerous when mixed with alcohol, and he called for alcohol prices to be doubled to curtail its misuse. He added: “The combination of drugs and alcohol can have really tragic consequences. Children can literally get drunk on their £5 weekly pocket money. "If drinks prices increased the way that cigarettes have in recent years, it would halt the growing problem of alcohol abuse.”
. In all seriousness though, i don't even find it worse here than many other places i like to to rave. Yeah there are certain areas here in B'mouth that are a problem but thats the same everywhere..