24 Feb 2018 Weekend Australian, Australia Author: Rebecca Urban Jamie Walker • Section: General News Article Type: News Item • Audience : 219,242 • Page: 5 • Printed size: 294.00cm² Market: National • Country: Australia • ASR: AUD 9,601 • words: 627 Item ID: 916681320

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Web opens new world of drugs for kids The four most seriously affec- REBECCA URBAN “But it’s tended to be older ted boys are believed to have been JAMIE WALKER people. The fact that we’ve now seen 14- and 15-year-olds — intubated before being admitted whose brains are still developing The internet and its shadier side- to intensive care. All are expected — doing it is really confronting kick, the darkweb, are dramati- to make a full recovery, and only and frightening. cally altering drug use among one remains in hospital. “Things are changing so quick- young people, providing around- ly. And, with technology in the the-clock worldwide access to a A class of drug known as a picture, kids are always two steps wide range of drugs, chemicals nootropic, or a “smart drug”, ahead.” and supplements and creating a phenibut is designed to enhance conundrum for authorities, edu- brain function and elevate mood. AIMING HIGH It has no stimulatory effects and is cators and policymakers. Prevalence (%) or drug This week’s alarming case on often used by anxiety sufferers as a relaxant. Legal in Russia, it was use in the past year the Gold Coast, where seven Year among students aged 12 to 17 10 students overdosed while at available online until the TGA 13.6 school, has baffled drug experts for declared it prohibited in Australia. CannabisCa a range of reasons. Monica Barratt, a research fel- TrTranquilisers 12 The substance involved — low with the National Drug and InInhalants 11.4 thought to be a Russian drug Alcohol Research Centre, said EcEcstasy 2.6 phenibut was not typically associ- HHallucinogens 2.2 called phenibut that, until a ated with high-risk drug-taking AAmphetamines 1.9 Therapeutic Goods Administra- behaviour. StSteroids 1.8 tion clampdown earlier this “But if there is this generational CoCocaine 1.4 month, was readily available on- move away from getting high, OOpiates 1.1 line — is not a household name. drunk or messy, we could be see- 2014 data Source: DARTA But recent evidence suggests ing a move towards drugs with teenagers are increasingly turning other motivations,” she said. to over-the-counter pharma- ceuticals, such as paracetamol and According to the Australian ibuprofen, often mixing them with Secondary Students’ Alcohol and other drugs or alcohol in order to Drug survey released in 2016, get high. minors are drinking and smoking “It’s a whole new world,” says less than they did 20 years ago. one former Gold Coast principal. The use of opiates, such as heroin “If a kid gets caught with pot, and morphine, has also fallen, they are excluded, it’s simple. But while cocaine and ecstasy use, if a kid gets caught with an antide- although uncommon, has re- pressant or sleeping pills … I don’t mained stable. know. This is not an area schools Among 12- to 17-year-olds, can- are ready for.” nabis is the most commonly used illicit drug, with 13.6 per cent While the exact circumstances reporting having used it in the pre- are still under investigation, St vious year, followed by tranquillis- Stephen’s College principal Jamie ers (12 per cent) and inhalants Dorrington said a teacher had (11.4 per cent). But the study did noticed several boys were “not not canvas young people on their concentrating” on Wednesday illicit use of over-the-counter or morning and escorted them to the prescription medicines. school’s health centre. The first call to the emergency Drug and Alcohol Research services went out at 12.47pm. The and Training Australia director symptoms varied, depending on Paul Dillon said the use of the how much of the powdered sub- internet and social media to access stance had been ingested. One boy drugs was a trend that warranted was lapsing in and out of con- attention. “We are entering a new sciousness, and ambulance offi- era of accessibility to these sub- cers put him on oxygen to stances, where people are order- maintain respiration. Others were ing online and getting them disorientated or nauseous. through the post,” he said.