8yos use alcohol

Tamworth children as young as eight are using drugs and alcohol in an alarming trend community leaders have labelled "frightening" and "extremely serious".

Drug and alcohol abuse is steadily spiralling out of control in the local area, according to some stakeholders, who told The Northern Daily Leader young people could readily access marijuana, ecstasy, speed and ice, as well as alcohol. People needed to "open their eyes" to the extent of the problem in Tamworth, according to Youth Insearch volunteer Ron Carr, who said children from all backgrounds were affected, not just those from lower socio-economic groups.

Mr Carr yesterday told The Leader parents were primarily to blame, with many young people turning to drugs and alcohol to escape dysfunctional, love-starved home lives.

"You have to have a licence to drive, but don't have to have a licence to be a parent," he said.

"I don't think people in the wider community realise how much of a problem drug and alcohol use is. It's extremely serious. I [know of] kids as young as eight drinking alcohol, and it's a problem that won't just go away."

The alarming underage crisis was backed by PCYC manager Paul Stevenson, who said drug and alcohol abuse was a "very big problem" in Tamworth.

PCYC's police representative Senior Constable Aaron Turner said drug and alcohol abuse could be directly linked to crime and anti-social behaviour.

"Many of the kids referred [to the PCYC] are a direct product of their environment.

"Unfortunately it's a vicious circle – at home they are exposed to drugs, alcohol and violence and they mirror that behaviour," Senior Constable Turner said.

"It's a community issue that really deserves some attention. It is frustrating to work with young people here at the (PCYC) centre and you make progress, but then have to send them home where they have no boundaries and are exposed to poor rolemodels."

Binge drinking was also highlighted as a social pinch-point, with police Superintendent Tony Jefferson saying it affected underage and legal-age drinkers.

"Drug and alcohol abuse is big. It's a problem, it's growing, and it's frightening," Supt Jefferson said.

Community members needed to overcome the psychological barrier associated with drugs and alcohol misuse, according to Supt Jefferson, who said the "I don't want to get involved" attitude was a no-win option.

"Everyone in the community needs to be mindful of what is happening around them," he said.

"We need to make a stance against young people participating in this behaviour and we need to ensure people who supply drugs and alcohol to young people are held accountable.

"People need to report anything suspicious – even small pieces of the puzzle can help."

None of the community leaders contacted by The Leader could put a figure on the amount of children exposed to at-risk drug and alcohol behaviour, but all agreed the problem was growing.

They also agreed more counselling and support services were needed for young people.

There was no easy solution, but the first step had to be broader community awareness of the problem, according to Mr Carr.

"People need to stop turning a blind eye and accept that it is happening in our community, to children from all backgrounds. Only then will we be able to come together and try to work towards a solution."

Northern Daily Leader