'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".