Brisbane Youth Forum report

Brisbane Youth Forum report

Background

The Australian National Council on Drugs (ANCD) typically holds a local agency forum in conjunction with its meeting in each State and Territory. These forums form part of the Council’s strategy to inform itself of the views of the non-government and community-based organisations working in the drug and alcohol field.

In addition to these general drug and alcohol agency forums, the Council has undertaken to host some initial youth-specific forums. This decision was taken by the ANCD to reflect the fact that issues related to youth substance use is a priority area for the Council. The inaugural ANCD Youth Forum was held concurrently with a drug and alcohol agency forum in Brisbane.

The intention of this summary is to provide a brief description of each of the issues raised by forum participants. This report is posted onto the ANCD Internet Site to enable forum participants and interested others to access issues discussed at the forums. The ANCD also provides a copy of this report to the Premier or Chief Minister, as well as the responsible Minister in each jurisdiction to ensure the Government is aware of the issues raised.

It should also be noted that all the issues raised at the forums are not necessarily areas that the Council agrees with or are able to address. They do however provide an important touchstone on community concerns and perceptions for Council members. In addition, the ANCD believes that it has an obligation to participants to report the issues and concerns raised in an unfettered manner.

Brisbane Youth Forum

Approximately 80 people from the drug and alcohol field and other sectors - including workers from the non-government sector, police, state and federal government representatives, housing, employment and education, - attended a youth forum hosted by the ANCD at the Carlton Crest Hotel on Thursday 28 June 2001.

Mr Gino Vumbaca, Executive Officer for the ANCD gave a brief welcome and introduction to the forum, then introduced the ANCD’s Research Officer, Ms Karen Price. Ms Price outlined the role of the Council, it’s Terms of Reference, and the key areas of the Council’s work, as well as giving attendees some brief information about members of the ANCD who were either attending the agency forum or were unable to attend the youth forum. Individual Council members in attendance briefly introduced themselves to Forum participants.

Major Watters joined the forum and introduced himself, giving participants his view on the importance and priority within the Council of issues related to youth drug use.

Ms Price then opened the forum to participants to raise issues, and to also give the Council any views on how the Council might best consult with a range of young people.

Council members in attendance were:

Major Brian Watters (Chair)
Dr Robert Ali
Ms Tonie Miller
Mr Arthur Toon
Mr Terry Wooley
Ms Anne Bressington
Ms Julie Hanbury

The following themes were raised and discussed throughout the forum:

Characterisation of youth drug use
How young people’s drug use is viewed translates into programs and services and as such, it is important to be accurate about usage patterns. The majority of drug use by young people is experimental and/or opportunistic, with only a minority of young people exhibiting problematic, chaotic ‘addictive’ drug use behaviours. This should be reflected in initiatives to address youth drug use.
Drug use as a legal barrier
Representatives from the legal profession noted that if a person has committed an offence where drugs are involved, the issue is complicated by that and in some cases, the person is treated differently under the law than if the offence was committed without drugs being a factor. A person’s drug use means that the person is described in a certain way, which evokes the stigma attached to drug use.

There is also a high level of frustration and a sense of skewed priorities when it is easier for a person to go through the legal process – courts, correctional facilities, etc – than it is for a person to be referred to an appropriate drug treatment facility. Incarceration is not a way of addressing substance misuse.
Lack of specific youth services
There is a lack of services that can cater for young people (ie: 12-17 years of age) and the waiting lists for the services that exist mean that young people who go through the difficult withdrawal process are not supported until their entry into a treatment service/program. Many opportunities to change the course of a young persons life are lost in this way.
Early intervention and prevention
Workers in the drug and alcohol sector expressed their frustration at the fact that they perceive it as much easier to access services for adults (40s) than it is for young people (14s). Workers note that it is often easier to assist a young person to change their drug use behaviours (before they have a lengthy history of drug use). The feeling expressed was one of confusion as it is felt that it should be the other way around if we are to reduce the need for services for the 40 year olds of the future.
Waiting lists after detoxification
People who undergo detoxification need support after they have achieved withdrawal, typically within the 4-6 weeks waiting period to access treatment services. Without this support, the person often finds it too difficult to sustain a drug-free status, which then puts them at the start of the process again.
Rural and regional services
Services rapidly dissipate away from Brisbane, and other major centers in Queensland. For young people living in rural and regional locations, this often means to access help for their drug and/or alcohol problems, they are forced to relocate to Brisbane or other cities. This dislocation means young people are without the support of family and friends whilst undergoing detoxification and drug treatment. In addition to these issues are issues related to finding temporary housing, transportation, etc. Also there is a lack of appropriate and/or available services upon returning to their home town.
Dual diagnosis
It is felt that there is a chronic lack of services and staff capable of treating dual diagnosis clients. Some frustration was expressed in relation to this issue, particularly because it is felt that ‘no-one owns comorbidity’ and that ‘buck passing’ between drug and alcohol and mental health sectors continues to disadvantage people with a dual diagnosis.
School suspension
Exclusion of students for drug possession/use serves to exacerbate problems related to young people having no-where to go, boredom and possible offences. The point was raised that for some young people, a school-like environment (such as TAFE, etc) does not suit and if this is the case, there are no other alternatives for young people to obtain skills that will enhance employment opportunities.
Health promotion & prevention neglected
Some participants felt that when consideration is given to drug and alcohol funding, that health promotion is neglected. Moreover it was felt that generally, prevention is the ‘poor cousin’ to drug and alcohol treatment activities when it comes to funding emphasis.
Arts and recreation – healthy alternatives
Given the high levels of youth unemployment and other societal issues for young people (particularly those who are no longer in schools), there needs to be support for programs which allow young people to express themselves, meet other young people and make connections. For young people who are disenfranchised and disconnected from other structural means to express creativity and energy (e.g.: workplaces, schools, etc) – there needs to be a healthy avenue for these kinds of activities for young people. Arts and recreation is a way of kids getting the natural high they seek.
School drug education
Teachers can do an excellent job but require support through training, resources and appropriate back up to ensure they are confident in dealing with drug education and the issues which may arise in this context.
Pilot funding
Often, existing services are only aware of a new, pilot program or service after it begins to operate. There is a perception that there is a lack of analysis of existing capacity before pilot projects are announced.

Participants felt that if there were consultations with existing services, the money available for pilot projects could be utilized in a more ongoing way, through expanding the capacity of existing services. Governments are seen to be enthusiastic about pilot projects as it allows them to point to activities as achievements; however, there is a question over the longer-term value for this expenditure.
Resource allocation
Participants agreed that obviously there isn’t an endless supply of resources, however, the resources that are available need to be allocated wisely and efficiently. It is believed that currently, the process for resource allocation isn’t transparent enough, and tends towards ‘new’ services rather than expanding current capacity.
Domestic violence
For those young people who are using drugs and/or alcohol, some of them are doing so due to the situation in their own homes. Increasing reports of domestic violence and parental drug abuse are being reported to drug and alcohol workers, and are contributing to higher levels of homelessness.
Sniffing
Police report that when they come into contact with young people sniffing paints, glue, etc, that they have few constructive options to deal with these young people. Usually police come into contact with these people after hours when there is no service open to take them, they don’t wish to take them into custody and as such, the often chosen option is to just take the substance off them.

Other issues

Some participants reported that there appears to be a disturbing increase in exploitation of young people by dealers in order to receive ‘payment’ for drugs, including reports of some child prostitution.
Young women have particular needs that stem from their reasons for drug use, which is seen to be very different to the case with young men. Therefore, specific responses targeting young women are needed.
Networking between sectors needs to be encouraged to ensure the most efficient delivery of service, as a sector.
Marginalized groups are often neglected. The particular needs of marginalized groups such as gay and lesbian young people, indigenous young people, young people from non-english speaking backgrounds are very distinct and the views of these groups need to be taken into account.
There was some support at the forum for an increasing role for peer educators, particularly if they were encouraged to formalize their skills through training.
Regulation of the sale of cigarettes to minors needs to be tightened

Consultation – views

Round-tables are daunting, need to ensure young people from all backgrounds, etc are in a consultation environment where they feel safe, empowered and comfortable to speak about issues freely.
Settings around different parts of the state/country are very different and have very different issues associated with them for young people. Consultation must include consideration of a cross section of environments/settings that young people live in.
Ensuring a cross section of young people is very important – young people from rural and regional areas, cities, those who have alcohol or other drug problems, those that don’t, gay and lesbian young people, ATSI youth, etc.
Council needs to actually speak to young people to get their perspective, rather than those adults who work with young people. Consultation with those who work with young people is important, but the ANCD needs to be aware that their comments come from a different perspective, and that this audience cannot ‘speak for’ young people.

July 2001

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