Primary school aged Victorian kids addicted to drug ice
PRIMARY school-aged children are battling ice addictions, with kids as young as 11-years-old found using ice pipes in Victoria.
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PRIMARY school-aged children are battling ice addictions, with kids as young as 11-years-old found using ice pipes in Victoria.
Police are flagging the state’s battle with illicit drugs is deepening with “hundreds’’ of children addicted or regularly using hardcore substances.
The Sunday Herald Sun can reveal in some cases police have picked up 10-year-olds, who are high and in possession of ice.
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A new generation of drug users and addicts was emerging and, according to Victoria Police assistant commissioner Rick Nugent, if not acted upon the trend will have serious long-term consequences.
“Its sad, you have kids as young as 11-years-old who have an ice addiction,’’ Mr Nugent said. “Kids aged 11, 12, 13 that have been picked up with ice pipes on them.
“Some have been 10 years old’’
Shocking cases include:
— A 14-year-old child presented to police admitting he had been using crystal methamphetamine since he was 11-years-old.
— A 10-year-old boy in rural Victoria was found to be high and carrying drugs.
— A 14-year-old girl underwent treatment for a heroin addiction in Melbourne
Mr Nugent warned the behaviour of young users was often highly erratic and dangerous and was contributing to crime rates.
“I have delivered death messages to parents, telling them their child is dead because of drugs,’’ he told the Sunday Herald Sun.
“We know the harm of drugs is significant and we constantly need to look at how we can do better.”
Youth Support and Advocacy Service CEO Andrew Bruun said Victoria needed a facility that was designed to target the needs of young drug users.
“None of the resources that (the government) have allocated are for young people, they are for adults, which is a big problem. We have some resources but they are not adequately funded.’’
Mr Bruun warned children faced long waiting lists for rehab beds and called for help from the Andrews Government.
The Salvation Army is also seeing younger drugs users and backed the call for more services specifically aimed at teens.
Major Brendan Nottle said young Victorians are now regularly overdosing in the CBD on weekends.
“There has been a significant increases in the number of young people using illicit substances and they are having such a negative affect that paramedics are called,’’ Mr Nottle said.
“We need to be developing more services that help young people before they get fully addicted. Services in this field is already stretched.’’
It is understood the detox facilities in Victoria for addicted children is extremely low, with children often sent to adult or inappropriate facilities for treatment.
In some cases they are also placed on waiting lists for months.
Mental Health Minister Martin Foley said: “We know a small number of young Victorians seek help for alcohol and drug related problems each year”.
“We’ve increased funding to our drug treatment service for young people by almost $2 million per year.
“This builds on over $180 million the government has invested to support its Ice Action Plan, which is funding a wide range of supports to tackle the impacts of ice and other drugs on the community.
Opposition spokeswoman Mental Health Emma Kealy said more needed to be done.
“Lives and families are being destroyed by drug addiction,’’ she said.
“There is no greater sign that Daniel Andrews has lost control than the fact we have hundreds of kids hooked on ice.”
