P addiction in Western Bay grows

The true extent of methamphetamine addiction in the Western Bay was acknowledged in Katikati this month when Western Bay District councillors heard first hand how the drug's use is growing.

Western Bay Mayor Garry Webber and councillors were among about 60 people at a seminar to raise awareness of P (methamphetamine) addiction in the Western Bay.

The seminar was organised in response to recommendations from a Western Bay research project by the Breakthrough Forum of which Council is a member through the Tauranga and Western Bay Safer Communities programme. Bravehearts and Te Runanga o Ngai Te Rangi Iwi Trust helped bring the seminar to Katikati.

Guest speaker was mother-of-three and former P addict Natalie Ormsby, aged 26, who spoke of her struggles with the drug and her success in battling her addiction.

The evening aimed to reveal the extent of P addiction among young people in Western Bay and to encourage discussion about how different agencies can help those looking to kick their addiction.

Western Bay Deputy Mayor Mike Williams said: Addiction is a disease and the wider community needs to understand and change its thinking of the nature of meth addiction.''

Mike said Council can show leadership in promoting greater awareness of the drug's presence and by supporting the work of Safer Communities and the Breakthrough Forum to highlight the issue of P-use and the associated harm the drug causes in families and Western Bay communities.

Safer Communities coordinator Alana Rapson said research last year commissioned by the Breakthrough Forum on the level of P addiction in the Western Bay found that although services were available, families either did not know how to access them or, by the time they sought help, they were in such crisis that they couldn't access services quickly enough.

The research recommended more specific data be collected from government agencies to gain a better picture of the issue and that more education and advocacy be done in the community.

The Breakthrough Forum aims to develop a multi-agency response to raising awareness of meth use and its associated family and community impacts and to advocate for better service outcomes for those seeking help. A seminar is planned for Te Puke early next year.