Gold Coast children, teenagers make up quarter of those seeking drug help

There has been a big jump in the number of children and teenagers seeking help for drug addiction on the Gold Coast, with a surprising substance topping the drug list.

CHILDREN and teenagers make up near a quarter of the thousands of people seeking help for drug addictions on the Gold Coast, new Federal Government data shows.

Cannabis, alcohol and dexamphetamines were the most popular substances among teenagers.

The Australian Institute for Health and Welfare reveals 5296 “clinical episodes” or interactions for court mandated of voluntary drug treatment were made on the Glitter Strip in the 2018-2019 financial year.

Five years ago it was 4403.

Of the new cases, 22.3 per cent of clients were people aged 10-19.

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The data also reveals Gold Coasters aged 30 or under made up more than half (51.27 per cent) of all the people who received treatment for their own drug use.

On average, most of those seeking treatment had referred themselves or been forwarded by health services. Just 215 people had been sent by corrections and 1465 through drug diversion pathways.

The data also reveals Gold Coasters aged 30 or under made up more than half (51.27 per cent) of all the people who received treatment for their own drug use. Picture: iStock

Residential rehab team leader Mikel Gellatly, from Live Lived Well’s Mirikai, said the large proportion of youth engaged on the Gold Coast could be explained by the number of proactive programs.

“Overall, we are finding substance abuse for youth to be trending down,” he said. “They are less likely to experiment or for that experimentation to turn into something sinister.

“What we are seeing is a lot of services partner with high schools in a prevention capacity which could be behind the high proportion of interventions, no matter how brief.”

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Mr Gellatly said while alcohol and methamphetamines were the major drugs of choice for those coming into residential care, users often use a mix.

“Often you see things like GHB as an additional drug, but not as the primary drug of use.

“This, of course, comes with a lot of risks of overdosing which is why those on the frontline like police are more aware of it, but those in rehabilitation tend to list their primary substance.”

Cannabis, alcohol and dexamphetamines were the most popular substance among teenagers seeking help for drugs, while methamphetamine ranked high among other age groups.

While other services have seen a drop in need since COVID-19, the publicly funded Lives Lived Well has had consistent demand for its 44 beds.

The service shut the live-in service during the height of the coronavirus lockdown but supported 70-plus rehabilitations remotely.

For private clinics like the Gold Coast Detox and Rehab Services the most concerning substances are cocaine and alcohol.

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The service which can take on four patients at a time operates from a “resort-like”, three-storey home with a catered chef.

Costing about $1500 a day, it caters to professionals, some celebrities and sports stars.

“Outside of this cocaine and GHB have also been on the rise, but you see it as a mixing substance,” manager Janine Elliott.

“We have also seen an increase in cannabis among the younger age groups but amphetamines through out.

“I think people need to realise addicts aren’t just among the poor and destitute. Addiction can happen to anyone.”