INCREASED ALCOHOL AND CANNABIS USE A WORRY

Fears that methamphetamine use throughout the country has rocketed to new
highs have set alarm bells ringing - but not in Ashburton.

According to Ashburton Community Alcohol and Drug Services general manager,
Jere Bunn, there is a bigger problem - alcohol and cannabis use.

Mr Bunn's comments come after the release of figures by Christchurch-based
Alcohol Drug Association (ADA), showing it fielded 1245 calls related to
methamphetamine on its helpline last year, an increase of 88 per cent.

In Canterbury the figure rose 30 per cent.

While alcohol-related calls also rose (nationally, from 8066 in 2002 to
8879 in 2003), as well as cannabis use (from 677 in 2002 to 1602 in 2003)
Mr Bunn said methamphetamines - in particular P - were wrongly grabbing all
the headlines.

"It's a concern that the focus is all being thrown on this phase when the
biggest problem is alcohol and cannabis."

Mr Bunn said the only two recent methamphetamine addicts he had treated
were from outside the district, one experiencing problems in Auckland and
the other in Wellington.

". they had both moved out of the area - to Auckland and Wellington - but
come back to get help. Other than that, I don't see it on a local level,
but we are usually the last stop on the block when it comes to this sort of
thing."

Mr Bunn said it was obvious cannabis and alcohol problems needed the most
focus.

"It was a total disaster lowering the drinking age when it comes to young
people and addiction. More people are seeking help - and at a younger age.

"And also for cannabis addiction. The youngest person we're currently
treating is 12."

Mr Bunn said unfortunately about 95 per cent of his clients had more than
one addiction, with cannabis and alcohol usually the most common mix.

But despite the problems the addictions were causing some and the fact a
recent study undertaken in Canterbury had shown cannabis to be "a gateway
to other drugs", Mr Bunn said it was not uncommon for parents to say,
"thank God they're not on the hard drugs".

"Adults don't seem to have alarm over alcohol and cannabis. There's an
illusion they're harmless, but with youths in particular, the introduction
of chemical into the body is not normal. Cannabis use especially is
dangerous, there is no healthy use."