The disturbing development has been revealed by police, who
are rolling out a series of community forums on ice, targeting children aged 12
to 18.
As part of the campaign, a drug and alcohol expert would
emphasise to girls that the drug can ruin their appearance, with sores
developing from use.
Older teen boys would be told it caused lack of erectile
function.
The effect on sporting performance would also be pointed
out, with sports stars attending a forum to be held this week in inner-city
Redfern.
The forum is to focus on the abuse of ice – or crystal
methamphetamine – as well as other illicit drugs and alcohol, with children and
their parents invited.
It follows a successful forum held late last year at
Maroubra and police said they hoped to extend the program to other suburbs
including Bankstown
and Campbelltown.
The forum at Redfern
Town Hall on Wednesday
night will be hosted by Deputy Police Commissioner and anti-ice campaigner Dave
Owens, who said police had information that children as young as 12 were using
the drug.
“They just see it as trendy because people talk about
it,” he said.
“Unfortunately, they glamorise it, but there’s nothing
glamorous about losing your teeth and your hair, and the sores,” he said.
He said the campaign was initiated after police discovered
parents did not know what signs of ice use to look for in children at risk.
He said those signs included changes in behaviour, such as
missing school or misbehaving at school, and outbreaks of physical violence.
Source:
www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24121379-5001021,00.html