DRUGS, SEX, DRINK - KIDS PROMPT PLEA

Some as young as 15 were trying hard party drugs like ecstacy and acid
that were "incredibly easy" to get in Queenstown and Wanaka, a worried
Wanaka counsellor said yesterday.

Former Aucklander Jay McCormick, a specialist addiction counsellor,
said there was also a "huge amount of binge drinking as young as 13"
and a lot were sexually active.

"I've never seen so much binge drinking, so young and I'm not trying
to frighten people, I'm just saying do something ... our kids deserve
the best," Ms McCormick said.

It was "very easy" for teens to get drugs and alcohol in both resorts,
either at parties, from older siblings or dealers.

Even the very expensive party drugs cocaine and P were readily
available in Queenstown.

"A lot of people here (in the area) are in denial and blaming
transients coming in for the snow, but it's very easy (for kids) to
get drugs from locals."

Ms McCormick, who worked for Auckland's Higher Ground drug and alcohol
rehabilitation centre, ran two awareness workshops in Queenstown in
June. Some parents who attended were so shocked by what they heard, a
public Face of the Nation-style debate for parents, caregivers and
fifth, sixth and seventh-formers was to be held in the Queenstown
Memorial Hall on August 29.

"Face Off" was an opportunity for parents and youth to "line up on
opposite sides" and hear "what the other side really thinks about
drugs and alcohol" .

Queenstown youth worker Merv Aoake will host the debate.

A panel of experts, including a police sergeant, lawyer, sexual health
nurse, doctor and youth worker, will be on hand to answer questions.

Mr Aoake spoke out in The Mirror newspaper last month about the need
for open dialogue and more parental and community responsibility about
binge drinking problems in Queenstown underagers.

He was reported as saying "12-year-old kids with bottles of vodka were
absolutely off their faces, running rampant and out of control through
town" .

Mr Aoake was in Japan and could not be reached yesterday.

However, Ms McCormick agreed. It was vitally important the community
opened its eyes and did something.

Drugs destroyed brains and organs. The Southern Lakes had the largest
cannabis use per head of population. Some as young as 13 were using
it.

"It's (cannabis) everywhere down here. I've spoken with a sexual
health nurse here who was very upset ... some girls are just so young
coming in and discovering they have contracted STIs (sexually
transmitted infections)," she said.

Queenstown police Sergeant Grant Miller agreed teen binge drinking was
a problem, which police were addressing.

Hard party drugs were "definitely out there" , but Mr Miller doubted
15-year-olds would have the "serious money" to be using drugs like
cocaine and P.

"I wouldn't say it's (cocaine) readily available at a street level in
Queenstown," he said.

However, it was "available for someone who's reasonably determined to
get it" .

The small town had "big city problems", he said