Alcohol blamed for youth crime

At least seven out of 10 youths are drunk when they offend, judges say, yet there are not enough treatment facilities to help young people.

Judges report young people are starting drinking at "disturbingly low" ages, with many beginning at 10 or younger, and having a drinking problem at 13.

The problem is so bad that Auckland treatment centre Odyssey House is opening a new eight-bed youth treatment centre this week without full funding.

"We know that we're going to run at a loss but that cost is not significant when you think of eight high-risk kids not accessing treatment," chief executive Christine Kalin said.

"We just feel that we've got to do something."

In a submission to the Law Commission alcohol review, Christchurch Youth Court judge Jane McMeeken was quoted as saying: "If only I had to deal with young offenders who offended whilst sober, I would have very, very little work to do. "That is a chilling statement to make when most of the young people I see are 14 and 15 years of age."

Judge John Walker, who compiled the submission, said 80 per cent of defendants coming before district criminal courts had alcohol or drug dependency.

"It seems to judges that what we are seeing in the adult courts follows on from what we see in the youth courts."

There were often waiting lists for adult residential treatment centres and since judges could not direct that treatment be provided, it was up to others to find a bed.

Youth residential treatment was also in short supply, with one facility each in Auckland, Hawke's Bay's Otane, Christchurch and Hamilton, although the future of the Hamilton one was uncertain.

Judge Walker noted that international research showed that it did not matter if the person chose to go to treatment or was forced by court order, the outcomes were the same.

Ms Kalin said the decision had been made to open another facility despite at least two beds being unfunded, to cope with nine high-risk youths – one from Wellington – needing treatment but waiting up to a month. These youths faced "significant risks" from not getting treatment. Kids with alcohol and drug problems were placed in high-risk situations and there was often a small window of opportunity to get them into treatment.

Many of those referred to residential treatment had already unsuccessfully been referred to other agencies and had been in trouble with the police or been before the youth court. They would stay, on average, 4 1/2 months.

The new facility will be blessed today.

The Law Commission has recommended more funding for treatment centres as part of its review.

The Drug and Alcohol Practitioners Association executive director, Ian McEwan, said residential placements were in short supply.

"For young people who get in difficulty with drugs and alcohol, life has got really chaotic. They need really intensive wrap-around care and it's really difficult to do that when they're still in their communities that are supplying the drugs."

- © Fairfax NZ News