Impacts-of-methamphetamine-in-Victoria-Community-Assessment-Penington-Institute

Workers noted that young people would present, like other cohorts, when in crisis – such as whenthey had run out of money, or when they were coming down after days without sleep. Workersexperienced challenges in keeping them engaged to consider their methamphetamine use once thecrisis had passed. When clients were approaching services in financial crisis, workers saw what onedescribed as a “rinse and repeat” cycle:“[there has been] an increase of young people coming in seeking emergency relief - food vouchers,fuel vouchers, Myki funds to get them to and from their appointments. That in itself impacts people’scapacity to pay their rent and their food...we’re supporting them to that next pay day, at which timethey will disengage [from us]”This financial crisis seen in young people using methamphetamine was linked to their existingvulnerability.“They have a small amount of life skills, so when they get their money, they’re falling straight intothat trap and spending all their money on that one thing.”A few services noted a marked increase in the number of tradespeople who were usingmethamphetamine, consistent with media reports 6 . Use within construction workers was not limitedto weekend occasional or social use. This group used crystal methamphetamine to get through longand demanding shifts.“...they do 12 hour shifts, or they do extended late nights... they’re probably on the fence betweenfunctional and dependent” (who and what type said this???)A Hume AOD worker said his client group was:“Primarily male. Quite a few tradesman, those guys would be completing apprenticeships or [whohad] qualified in the past two years.”One NSP worker noted that far from being hidden use by tradespeople, it was highly visible, withworkers coming in to collect syringes in work clothes, and in groups. Furthermore, the use of crystalmethamphetamine for work performance was being modelled to apprentices.“It’s definitely a culture... and I’ve heard from parents... the older ones are often responsible forteaching the younger ones.”Aboriginal CommunitiesReports from communities across the state, local media and data published in reports shows thatVictorian Aboriginal communities are being particularly affected by methamphetamine use. Oneworker noted:6See, for example: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/the-drug-thats-shaping-as-our-worstnightmare/story-fni0ffyu-122676006678239