High streets for druggies revealed

STREETS in Southport, Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach and Mermaid Beach are the most drug-addled on the Coast, according to the latest police data.

Southport’s Queen, Hicks and High streets are among the 2017 hot spots for reported drug offences on the Gold Coast, according to the Queensland Police Service crime map for the district.

Wairoo St in Burleigh Heads, Peerless Ave in Mermaid Beach and Monaco St in Broadbeach were also some of the worst for reports of drug crime.

The Glitter Strip party precinct’s Cavill and Orchid Avenues were the worst on the Coast, with reports of 91 and 84 drug offences in the period, respectively.

Further north, Dixon Dr and Billinghurst Cres were among the areas frequented by those looking to score.

Southport-based criminal lawyer, Ashkan Tai said it was no surprise streets in Surfers and Southport topped the list as many drug-addicted Gold Coasters resided in the areas.

“Generally they get caught where they hang out,” he said.

“Cavill Ave is absolutely that night spot area, so you’re more likely to find people there who get charged with possession of party drugs like MDMA.

“The fabric of the drug

scene and drug possession has changed so drastically in the past 10 years.

“Now, it’s very out in the open and you’ve got people trying to sell in a club.

“In Surfers Paradise or Broadbeach people could be possessing the drugs for themselves or others might openly have 30 or 40 pills in their pocket that they’re intending to sell.”

Mr Tai said the types of drug offences people were charged with differed based on socio-economic status.

“People in that higher echelon of society are more likely to be charged with possession of drugs like cocaine or restricted drugs like Xanax,” he said.

“But a homeless person in Southport, you’re more likely to see them with ice or a pipe.

“In saying that, the destruction by drugs doesn’t discriminate by postcode.”

Meanwhile, data for the 12 months to December 2017 shows the number of reported drug offences on the Gold Coast was 7672, down from 9421 in the previous year.

Drug and alcohol counsellor Kevin Donovan, from Brisbane South Alcohol and Drug Counselling Service, said a decrease in drug offences reported on the Coast indicated government funding was being pushed into policing, rather than health services.

“You look at the funding for the justice system, jails, courts and policing and that is a big lot of money compared to the health funding for someone who has a drug and alcohol problem who needs treatment,” he said.

“Older people are taking up drug use in less numbers, but what they are using is stronger.

“So, figures might show there might be less people taking it up, but the ones who are may be more addicted.

“It’s hard to know whether you can say an area is to blame because where there are high concentrations of people, that’s where drugs will be sold.”