A Newcastle grandmother is in despair over her 16-year-old grandson, who is addicted to the drug ice.
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The woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, said her family was heartbroken at the boy’s predicament.
“It’s destroying him and everyone around him,” she said.
His teeth were deteriorating, which experts said was an effect of ice abuse.
“He’s become so thin, it’s ridiculous,” she said.
The Newcastle Herald reported recently that offences for amphetamines possession had risen sharply in the region.
Of the dealers feeding the boy’s addiction, the grandmother said: “In my opinion, they’re terrorists”.
“They’re ruining our youth,” she said.
Once a popular, sporty and happy-go-lucky boy, he was now suspected of being involved in criminal activity to fund his drug habit.
He left school, had an apprenticeship and was getting good wages, but lost his job when drug-use interfered with his work attendance.
He had become increasingly aggressive.
The grandmother said the family had contacted treatment services, but was told he must want to seek help himself. The boy came from a loving family.
“We can’t physically drag him to get help, but I’d like to,” she said.
Hunter New England Health director of drug and alcohol services Adrian Dunlop said there was not a framework to “force people to change or stop what they’re doing”, unless they were caught breaking the law.
“This is a challenging thing for many community members to try to understand,” Dr Dunlop said.
“It’s part of the problem with addiction.”
Associate Professor Frances Kay-Lambkin, a drug and alcohol researcher, said she was working on treatment options using “e-health, apps and internet technology”.
Dr Kay-Lambkin, who works for the universities of Newcastle and NSW, said this would allow treatment to be “available all the time”.
“One of the challenges that drug and alcohol counsellors face is trying to get the right treatment to the right person at the right time,” she said.
“It’s really isolating and frustrating for families when they see their loved ones suffering so much and they can’t get any help or the right type of help for that person to turn their lives around.”
Dependence on the drug ice happened faster than with other drugs because of its potency, she said.
“It increases the level of dopamine by about 1000 times – much more than any other drug.”
The Hunter’s drug and alcohol information and referral service can be contacted on 4923-3060, along with a state service on 1800 422 599.
