Government agencies involved in the recent rescue of young street dwellers had no clue the youths were hooked on substances that were harsher than glue.
The discovery of the extent of the youths’ drug problem complicated matters as the rescuers found out they were not resourced enough to deal with drug addicts.
Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran said the youths complicated matters by influencing others who were also in the rehab programs.
She said the ministry was working quietly behind the scenes to set up a facility for addicts.
Children are shooting ice into their veins by sharing used needles.
This was revealed by Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran after visiting shelters and charity organisations that have been working hard to rehabilitate young street dwellers.
“Now in Lautoka we heard stories of how multiple children are using needles and they are using their vein to inject into their arm but also use the vein on their forehead,” said Ms Kiran.
“During that period some good Samaritans saw infected arms and took them to hospital and realised that when it hits the wrong place it gets infected.
More recently we have been made aware some of our young street dwellers are using ice.”
She said those young users ultimately contracted HIV.
“So, we knew ice, meth, and cocaine seem to have made it to our streets and it has probably been around for some time and it is one of the things that attracts our children to our streets.
“Sadly though, some of the children that have been recently tested below the age of 18 have been found to have HIV or AIDS.
“From what we understand the needles are being used by everybody on the streets, so it is commonly shared.”
Ms Kiran said a group of children living in a vacant house in Lautoka were using hard drugs.
“When we found the children in Lautoka, honourable Jese Saukuru and I, found there was one vacant house where some children were, and we talked to them.
“While we found glue packets there, we had also found syringes.”
