Pubdate: Thu, 14 Jun 2001
Source: Australian, The (Australia)
Copyright: 2001 News Limited {YEAR}
Contact:  http://www.theaustralian.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/35
Author: Natalie Williams

'SPEED' TRAP SNARES MORE TEENS

AMPHETAMINE use among teenagers and young adults has steadily increased 
over the past 10 years, particularly in regional centres. A report released 
yesterday indicated 4 per cent of those 14 and older had recently used 
amphetamines (speed).

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report said 2 per cent of 
those aged 14 and over had recently used ecstasy/designer drugs and 1 per 
cent cocaine and heroin.

It is in areas outside the Sydney metropolitan area where the problem is 
worst, with amphetamine use in the 14 to 25 age group growing.

Margaret McKay, founder of Keep Our Kids Alive and the driving force behind 
next week's third annual drug awareness week in Port Macquarie, said 
amphetamines were increasingly popular among young people in country areas.

"I know a Year 12 boy in Port Macquarie who [says he] doesn't socialise 
anymore because every party he goes to there are drugs, and pressure to use 
them," she said.

A Salvation Army counsellor said 10 years ago the "typical client" through 
the Bridge House rehabilitation program (Newcastle, Hunter Valley and 
central coast-based) was a 35 to 40-year-old alcoholic.

"Today it is an 18 to 23-year-old substance user [amphetamines, heroin or 
other drugs]," he said.

"Amphetamines are the cheap man's cocaine."

Bridge House caters for 19 people and is "constantly full".

Up to 40 per cent of people who undertake the three-stage, 10-month program 
are amphetamine users.

During the 1990s amphetamines became a popular drug among young people 
attending parties and dance events and is the next most commonly used 
illegal drug, behind cannabis.

At the annual Happy Valley Dance Festival, in Appin last February, 53g of 
amphetamines were seized in a police raid, compared with 12g of heroin.

Many young women, especially those working as models, have admitted using 
amphetamines to help them stay slim.

The Australian Institute of Criminology released a report in April which 
found young criminals who started on cannabis moved to "harder" drugs like 
amphetamines at about 18 years of age.

About 39 per cent admit to trying cannabis once (33 per cent 10 years ago) 
and 20 per cent say they've used it in the last year. This compares with 9 
per cent in England and the US, 8 per cent in Spain and 7 per cent in Canada.

"Amphetamine is more a part of the adolescent scene than heroin," said Dr 
Aiden Foy, director of the Newcastle Mater Hospital's alcohol and drug unit.

"It is more readily available and is seen as a little bit more respectable 
than heroin.

"Heroin users tend to be seen as losers by young people.

"One of the main problems with the increase in amphetamine use is the 
increased risk of contracting HIV or Hepatitis C.

"Sixty per cent of amphetamine use is intravenous and its use among young 
people is fairly unorganised.

"The use is often not planned but spontaneous and impulsive."

Dr Foy said there were many reasons why young people took that first hit of 
amphetamines but one of the most common was simply "youthful indiscretion".
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom