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Rehab on the rise

Exclusive by Stuart Greer
23/ 4/2008

STARTLING new figures show that the number of young people in drug rehabilitation in our borough has quadrupled in a period of 12 months.

Children as young as eight years of age are known to have been among the growing casualty list being helped with alcohol and drug problems.

Latest figures – released by the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse – show that Oldham saw a four-fold increase in the number of people aged 19 and under being treated during the period from March 2007 to the end of February 2008.

A total of 262 young people passed through the doors of Oldham’s drug and alcohol service, called Oasis.

They were there for addiction to cannabis and alcohol, cocaine and ecstasy.

It is said that the stresses of family breakdown and school expulsion are common factors among large numbers of those attending, while early exposure to crime and those with parents who are substance misusers are also particularly vulnerable.

And while it is positive that the number being helped grows, it is feared dozens more are suffering in silence.

This is almost certainly the case among the 16 to 25 age band, where problems are on the rise. It is known that this age group – which falls in the middle ground between adult and youth services – are using a lethal cocktail of alcohol, cocaine, cannabis and ecstasy.

Oldham’s Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) is focusing on the 16 to 25s at present, and says that cocaine is one of the major problems as it is more available than ever before – and at £2 a line, it is cheaper than a pint of lager at most pubs.

It is thought that the cheap price of drugs could be a reason behind a big increase in the number of adults seeking treatment – up 361 to 1,146.

These statistics make Oasis the busiest service of its kind in Greater Manchester. It now treats more young people than Tameside (162), Salford (158) and Manchester (192), with only Rochdale (377) treating more. Nevertheless, Oldham has seen the steepest rise in numbers across the whole of the North West in the past 12 months.

Kay French, a manager at DAAT, says the figures could rise even further in 2009.

She said: "Although I’m not condoning it, taking drugs is part of the experimentation of being young. Most will decide it’s not for them, but others will persevere. These are usually vulnerable youngsters who go onto mix with the wrong crowd, start missing school and sliding down the slippery slope."

But she added: "What we are looking at (with these figures) is a great solution rather than a terrible problem."

Anyone concerned about a family member can contact Oasis@Connexions on 0161 621 9600.