'AMUSEMENT PARK MENTALITY' BLAMED FOR USE AMONG YOUNG

The average age of drug users seeking treatment is falling.

Dan Wolf, a psychologist who runs the First Step Drug and Alcohol
Recovery Centre in Sandton, is seeing patients with drug addiction
problems who are as young as 13.

"Just last week I saw a girl of 13 who told me she was using with her
older sister. There is a core group of them at school and they all do
it together," Wolf said.

He said the available drugs were affordable to young teens with
pocket money, a particular problem in affluent areas where they were
given enough money to indulge their "amusement park mentality".

"Drugs have always been around, so you need to ask why they're using
so much now. And it all comes down to the fact that people no longer
have a tolerance for discomfort.

"If you want to cool down, you switch on the airconditioner. If you
want to eat, you throw something in the microwave. And so it is with
drugs - where it's easy to take something to feel good." Daniel, a
user who has been clean for nine months, said he was seeing younger
and younger patients with him in recovery.

"I know a guy who's been clean for a year now, and he's only 15. It's hectic."

He believes the increasing drug problem in Johannesburg is a result
of the supply-and-demand cycle feeding off itself, compounded by the
fact that with cellphone technology it has become incredibly easy for
anyone to get hold of drugs.

"I started using when I was 14 and back then you had a mission to get
your drugs. Nowadays you pick up the phone and if you've got the
money, someone will deliver to you in, like, five minutes.

"Take a drive through Hillbrow and the Nigerians throw their numbers
at you. Even my granny could score if she wanted. It's that easy."

Daniel said dealers were particularly active around schools, where
there was a ripe and easy market of users.

Cocaine, crack and heroin were still the three main drugs used in
Johannesburg, although crystal meth, or tik, was catching on fast, he said.