TEEN POT EPIDEMIC OUT OF CONTROL

MORE than 4000 children and teenagers have been caught with marijuana in three years in Queensland, a new report reveals.

The youngest found with the drug was just 10, according to the review of the State Government's drug diversion initiative - where first-time offenders are given the option of a two-hour rehabilitation session rather than going to court.

The review, completed by an independent review team for Queensland Health and the police, says the drug diversion program should continue.

The review found more than 12,000 people had been put through the program since it began in June 2001; more than one-third were under 20, by far the largest proportion.

More than 400 were aged 15 or under.

One senior Queensland solicitor told The Sunday Mail marijuana addiction was widespread among juveniles.

Gold Coast solicitor Bill Potts said he was confronted by many young offenders who were convinced the drug could not hurt them.

Many of his young clients were "drug drunk" in court, unable to talk to their lawyers because of prolonged marijuana use.

"Like any drug that's overused, marijuana has a significant effect, particularly on a young person's mind," said Southport-based Mr Potts.

"We often see kids with cannabis intoxication.  It's like they're drunk.  They're zonked out.

"I'm seeing kids who are 13, 14.  And it's not just something limited today to young men.  More young women are appearing in the Children's Court."

The majority of the youths had committed minor offences while under the influence of marijuana - including using obscene language, urinating in a public place or acts of vandalism.

He said there had been a "significant increase" in the number of young pedestrians hit while on drugs, or they were driving a motor vehicle and police pulled them over and took a blood test .  .  .  "there's been a significant increase there", he said.

"The State Government has to be applauded for what it's done with the drug diversion program but there's still a lot that can be done in education."

The disturbing trend of marijuana use among younger people comes as new figures in Britain reveal cannabis addiction is soaring.  One in five 15-year-olds in the UK smokes cannabis, placing themselves at great risk of developing schizophrenia in the next decade.

Queensland Alcohol and Drug Foundation chief executive Bob Aldred said early treatment of young drug users was essential.

"It's a growing phenomenon.  We're seeing more people with cannabis-related problems," he said.  "We are certainly getting a significant number of people coming to us with cannabis as their drug of choice.

"Cannabis is leading to a dependency on drugs.  Ten years ago we were not saying that.  Now we're saying it's addictive."

Mirikai Gold Coast Drug Council director Mary Alcorn said most social workers agreed a strong quality of cannabis, produced by hydroponics, had not helped the drug landscape in Queensland.

SIDEBAR

SCHOOLS DATA SHELVED

LATEST research revealing the extent of drug use among secondary students has been left to gather dust by the State Government as the crisis in schools worsens.

Two years after students were surveyed about alcohol and drug use in a study partly funded by the state, Queensland Health has not even analysed the data.

The Opposition has labelled the delay a disgrace, saying the Government was ignoring crucial information.

The Sunday Mail last week revealed that while the Government insists drug use by students is rare, teachers at the coalface are adamant the problem is widespread and growing.  About 700 Queensland students are suspended for substance abuse each term, but teachers say schools do not have the resources to tackle the issue.

The best available figures - from a 1998 Australian household survey report - - indicate that one in two Queenslanders aged 14 to 19 has used drugs.

However, more up-to-date research is available in the Australian School Students Alcohol and Drugs Survey, which was completed in 2002 but is yet to be released.

A spokeswoman for Education Minister Anna Bligh said Education Queensland had contributed $20,000 to the cost of the survey.  As part of the study, researchers collected information directly from students and gave it to Queensland Health to analyse.

"The illicit drugs analysis is still being undertaken by Queensland Health and is due to be released later this year," the spokeswoman said.

Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg called for immediate release of the research.  "How long does it take to analyse survey results?" he said.  "Ms Bligh knew that this information had been gathered from school students when the Kenmore High School drug controversy broke two weeks ago, but she failed to tell the public, parents, school heads, teachers and police."

A spokesman for Health Minister Gordon Nuttall said Queensland Health did not receive the survey data until April.  "We want to get it done as quickly as we can.  We're still looking at about three months before it's complete."

Queensland Drug and Alcohol Foundation chief executive Bob Aldred questioned how Ms Bligh could allocate resources and develop programs to deal with drugs in schools without the data.