Youth worker wants clinic for binge-drinking teens

Drunk teens in Whangarei have brought a call for an intensive alcohol treatment unit.

The problem of teen binge-drinkers was highlighted by two riotous weekends in the city centre.

Police had to lock a drunk 14-year-old girl in their cells after finding her in a stupor and barely able to stand about 1.30am on Sunday.

They could not find her parents so asked Child, Youth and Family to step in, which they did later in the day.

The previous Sunday, 19-year-old Anaru Tamihana died after a fight in the city. A man was charged on Monday with his manslaughter.

Otangarei youth worker Martin Kaipo wants a clinic to be set up offering intensive residential help for Northland teens with drink problems.

"We need a facility that addresses that specific need for drug and alcohol abuse."

Alcohol featured prominently among youth offenders and, while teen binge- drinking had long been a problem, it was one that nobody had so far tackled successfully.

Rubicon - a Government-funded youth drug-and-alcohol service in Dargaville and Whangarei - helped those at school, but Mr Kaipo believed teens who did not go to school were slipping through the gaps.

Although Rubicon manager Jenny Gibbs agreed binge-drinking was a long-standing problem, she did not think demand in Northland justified a residential unit.

"The funded access is Odyssey House [in Auckland]. This year we have sent probably about six 14- to 16-year-olds," she said.

Rubicon, which employs three counsellors and three support staff, works at present with about 180 young people aged 11 to 17.

"We're stretched at the moment."

Binge-drinking had become part of Northland's teen culture and was perceived as normal.

"They go out on Saturday nights and think the aim is that they have to get drunk. It's like a rite of passage."

Whangarei police area commander Inspector Paul Dimery said the weekend's events - which included 52 arrests - showed alcohol was a problem. People supplying alcohol to teenagers should think about the consequences.

CYF would not comment on the girl's case, but general manager of operations Lorraine Williams said police custody was sometimes the safest place.

"When a young person is found unmanageably drunk or otherwise inebriated, there are safety issues of vomiting, choking or even self-harming."

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE