Pubdate: Thu, 8 Oct 1998
Source: The Hobart Mercury 
Contact:  
Author: Eve Lamb

FUNDING HIT IN DRUG WAR

DRUG use was behind the increasing number of young Tasmanians experiencing
psychotic illness, a leading state rehabilitation organisation said yesterday.

Richmond Fellowship chief executive Rosemary Boote said the average age of
people receiving help for mental illness from the fellowship was clearly
decreasing and drug use was largely to blame.

"The average age for people staying in Richmond Fellowship accommodation
used to be in the 30s. Now it's down to 25," Ms Boote said.

She said teenagers as young as 15 were among those receiving help for
psychotic illness, including schizophrenia, triggered by drug use.

"Drug-induced schizophrenia is happening at a younger age," Ms Boote said.

"It's often marijuana combined with alcohol."

"Some only have to try marijuana once and this is all that is needed to
trigger it."

She said use of drugs other than marijuana was also linked to an increased
incidence of psychotic illness among young people.

"Morphine is also quite big at the moment," Ms Boote said.

"One of my big beefs is that Tasmania's health department hasn't been
providing sufficient funding for early intervention. In a lot of cases
there is nowhere to refer them when they come out of hospital."

"They are supposed to be case-managed but in lots of cases this doesn't
happen."

She said services were often inadequately integrated.

"They come out of hospital and go home or back into tbe network that
supports their drug habit, so there is nothing to break the cycle," Ms
Boote said. "I think schools can be doing a lot more and starting earlier."

There was little doubt cannabis was linked to psychosis, a researcher at
last month's national psychosis conference in Hobart said.

The deputy clinical director of Melbourne's Early Psychosis Prevention and
Intervention Centre, Dr Jane Edwards, said at least 70% of all
first-episode psychosis patients had used cannabis within 12 months of
their first psychotic episode.

To draw attention to its concerns, the fellowship will hold a tree-planting
ceremony at the Lindisfarne Esplanade on Monday, World Mental Health Day. 
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Checked-by: Richard Lake