Transcription
Junction Support ServicesCrystal methamphetamine (ICE)
Junction Support ServicesJSS is committed to social change and has been working to reduce poverty andhomelessness in communities in North East Victoria since 1989.The organisation is not for profit and provides a range of specialised and practical supportservices to assist people to access community, welfare, health and education services.JSS provides support to children, young people, single adults and families who aredisadvantaged through poverty, homelessness, family breakdown, social isolation, familyviolence, mental ill health and drug and alcohol addiction.
Services ProvidedIn the past 12 months JSS has supported a significant amount of individuals.The graph below highlights cohorts of clients that we have assisted. JSSsupported 1326 in the past 12 months.
-HomelessnessDrug and Alcohol abuseTraumaMental HealthLegalDisengaged from educationUnemploymentDisconnection from the communitySocial isolationFamily breakdownSexual abuse-Family ViolenceRelationship breakdownLow self esteemDisabilitiesChild Protection involvementLack of living skillsAnger management difficulties
A sense of EuphoriaVulnerabilitySocial ConnectednessPeer PressureLack of awarenessSocial “party drug”Stigma“When I was supplying I was told totarget young people and to give themfree samples, I said no way, I’m notgoing to ‘F’ up someone else’schildhood”Euphoria described by clients as: “indescribable”“nothing like it” “you feel full of energy, full of life”“once you have tried ICE , you would never go back tospeed” “you know you won’t get that high anywhereelse” “First time is the best, I was one of the one’schasing the dragon” “IV use is ten times better thansmoking it” “People would ask me to inject, but Iwould refuse, because I knew there would be nocoming back from that” “It is pretty much odourless,it just smells like a vanilla scented candle, so it waseasy to hide my use, not like marijuana”“I was 13 when I started, I didn’thave the mental capacity then, all Iknew was that it felt good, I didn’tthink it could be bad”.
Statistics Demographics of individuals that use:- 13 year olds- All cohorts Youth Adults/families Pregnant women Young parents Low socio-economic Blue collar Middle class In the Creating ConnectionsProgram current case load of 10, 6(60%) clients currently use ice orare rehabilitating from the drug.40% of these clients have beenidentified as young mothers 7 out of 18(38%)young parents in theSupporting Young Parents Programhave reported to have used or arecurrently using Ice 16 out of 24(66%) clients in thecreating connections program inthe past 12 months have disclosedtheir methamphetamine use, 7 ofwhich were young mothers(29%) Out of 30 young people thatpresented homeless at JSS11 disclosed using Ice(36%).
Socially- PartiesFreebiesDeceptionTargetedSelf medicating“I used to target the dealer’sgirlfriend and make friends withher so I would have a constantsupply”“It was a year before I even knewhow much the drug cost” “Myboyfriend told me I had to pay formy own drugs”“The moment of thinking ICEis bad, never lasts long. Assoon as you use again, youwonder why you everthought that”
Cost of the drug 100 for a point of a gram 250- 500 for .5 gram 500 - 1000 for a gramExample:- One client was purchasing anounce a week for 7000- Another client was using.5grams per day
Financial BurdenBudget of a 21 year old male: Newstart Allowance 509.50 a fortnight Rent(public housing) 130 f/n Utilities 50 f/n Cigarettes 100 f/n Food 160 f/n Phone 30 f/n 470 f/n – leaving them with 39.50 until their nextpay day“ I would get paid 75 per half hourat the brothel” “I was doing 15 or 16hour shift” “Everyone there wasusing”“ I turned to prostitution when I couldn’tafford my habit anymore” “I didn’t wantto do break ins, I’m not that kind ofperson, I didn’t want to hurt anyone”
The ImpactRisk to children/pregnancy Child protection involvementTraumaChild being removedRisk to child being harmed byassociatesLimited attachmentsHigh risk pregnancyDrug dependency newbornPremature birthIssues with child's developmentHealth/appearance Poor dental hygiene- results in longterm teeth issues Dramatic change in appearance Scab on face and arms Sunken face/hollowed-outappearance Weight loss- loss of appetite Aged Sleep deprivation- No sleep for days“If I hadn’t fallen pregnant, I wouldn’t have stopped using, I would still be there now.Even when people knew I was pregnant no-one told me to stop using, they all eat myshit, at first I ignored the pregnancy, then I spoke to a family member who told me I hadto do something, at least try to change”.
The ImpactCrime Reported by 2012-2013 crime statisticsan increase by 61% drug offences Burglaries to finance habit Violence to others Trafficking and/or Manufacturing drugs“I was putting myself at risk, I wouldstay up all night and chat to men ononline, and if they told me they used Iwould get them to come over and bringdrugs, it could have been anyone.”“I was charged withpossession at 17”“Every time we used we would get ina car and just drive around, I don’tknow how we never got caught bythe police”Risk taking behaviours Driving under the influence of ice No sense of consequence Sense of invincibility Risk of becoming seriously harmed orharm others
The Impact“I lost myself, ICE is all I would thinkof, even now it ‘fs’ with my brainand I’m still working out who I amand my personality”Mental Health Increased anxietyParanoiaDepressionsPsychosisLong term impact on mental healthDifficulties with feeling happy withoutusingHomelessness Stop paying rent or damage property Loss of home Bank foreclosing Difficulty sustaining a house Shortage of affordable houses Sleeping on the streets or inappropriatedwellingsRisk to the community/family/friends Belongings being stolen- the financialand trauma related costs associated tothisRisk of safety- roads, streets etcVictim of violenceLoss of a loved one due to an overdose
The ImpactSocial Isolation/limited supports Steal from family Violence towards family Limited ‘real’ friendships Paranoia may lead to isolating self Fear of judgement Fear of being public due to risk ofbeing assaulted Friends only associated to drugs Significant Family breakdown“I couldn’t even go for a coffee with myfriends, I couldn’t hack it, I was thinkingabout using” “I wouldn’t talk to anyone whoI thought was going to tell me that Ishouldn’t be using”“In the end it isn’t social, you sit inyour room shooting up because whywould you go out to a club when youcan shoot up when you want athome”Other impacts Financial impact(as discussed)UnemploymentDrug use in the workforceThe impacts of traumaPressures of welfare services, police,hospitals etc
Services involved due to IceSome of the many interventions required for a drug user: Chid protectionHomelessness servicesFood bankEmergency reliefPoliceFamily Violence ServicesYouth Justice/CorrectionsOffice of HousingDetox FacilityRehab FacilityDrug and Alcohol Counselling Mental Health- NECAMHS/Adultmental health Refuges Hospital- Health Services GP Generalist counselling Psychologist Psychiatrists Emergency accommodation Financial counselling Victim's of Crime“My ex was an ICE user, he beat me so badly when I was pregnantthat I was taken to hospital. They reported it to the police andthat’s when DHS made me leave him, I wouldn’t have done itexcept I was pregnant”
Ice vs Out of Home CareFactors of a Residential client- Vulnerable- Protective of self /difficult to developtrust- Poly drug use- Risk taking behaviours- Limited attachments to adults, friends,family- Social isolation- Trauma related behaviours39% of young people supportedwithin the Intensive CaseManagement Services (ICMS) haveallegedly used the drug IceUsing39%Notusing61%Characteristic of a residential clientusing ice:- Physically violent to property andpeople- Less receptive to support andadvice- Hostile and overlysuspicious/paranoid- Do not respond to interventionssuch as therapy
Issues that pose a problem for eliminating druguse in our area: Drug Culture Lack of entertainment/recreationopportunities- especially young people Geography Positioning of OoH properties“When I came back from detox I had my house broken into fivetimes, my car stolen, my wallet was found next door and next doorwere knocking on my door asking me to buy them cold and flutablets, I asked to be moved (OoH) and had the police reports andeverything, they wouldn’t move me. A few months ago the housewas raided and they had been running a meth lab from there. Themen cleaning it out said that the readings were so high in there thatthere would be a positive reading in my house as well”.
-Local detox/rehabDetox/rehab for familiesEducation in schoolsMake equipment/chemicalsharder to obtain- Consistency with lawNationally“You need to get people before they even tryit. Once they have had it it’s too late, that’show good it is”. “Need to learn about it atschool” “Drop in Youth Service, like inMelbourne would be good” “YSAS inMelbourne was great, they had detox, dayprograms, food bank, pool tables, a GPservice, hot meals three times a day”
David and Sam’s Story
David and Sam’s Story
David and Sam’s Story
“My name is Crystal Meth”I destroy homes, I tear families aparttake your children, and that's just the start.I'm more costly than diamonds, more precious than goldThe sorrow I bring is a sight to behold.If you need me, remember I'm easily found,I live all around you - in schools and in town.I live with the rich, I live with the poor,I live down the street, and maybe next door.I'm made in a lab, but not like you think,I can be made under the kitchen sink.In your child's closet, and even in the woods,If this scares you to death, well it certainly should.I have many names, but there's one you know best,I'm sure you've heard of me, my name is crystal meth.My power is awesome, try me you'll see,But if you do, you may never break free.Just try me once and I might let you go,But try me twice, and I'll own your soul.When I possess you, you'll steal and you'll lie,You do what you have to -- Just to get high.The crimes you'll commit for my narcotic charms,Will be worth the pleasure you'll feel in your arms.You'll lie to your mother, you'll steal from your dad,When you see their tears, you should feel sad.But you'll forget your morals and how you were raised,I'll be your conscience, I'll teach you my waysI take kids from parents, and parents from kids,I turn people from God, and separate friends.I'll take everything from you, your looks and your pride,I'll be with you always -- right by your side.You'll give up everything -- your family, your home,Your friends, your money, then you'll be alone.I'll take and take, till you have nothing more to giveWhen I'm finished with you, you'll be lucky to live.If you try me be warned - this is no game,If given the chance, I'll drive you insane.I'l ravish your body, I'll control your mindI'll own you completely, your soul will be mine.The nightmares I'll give you while lying in bed,The voices you'll hear, from inside your head.The sweats, the shakes, the visions you'll see,I want you to know, these are all gifts from me.But then it's too late, you'll know in your heart,That you are mine, and we shall not part.You'll regret that you tried me, they always do,but you came to me, not I to you.You knew this would happen, many times you were told,But you challenged my power, and chose to be bold.You could have said no, and just walked away,If you could live that day over, now what would you say?I'll be your master, you will be my slave,I'll even go with you, when you go to your grave.Now that you have met me, what will you do?Will you try me or not? It's all up to you.I can bring you more misery than words can tell,Come take my hand, let me lead you to hell.
You do what you have to -- Just to get high. The crimes you'll commit for my narcotic charms, Will be worth the pleasure you'll feel in your arms. You'll lie to your mother, you'll steal from your dad, When you see their tears, you should feel sad. But you'll forget your morals and how you were raised, I'll be your conscience, I'll teach you my .
