Quote:
Originally Posted by connaust
Melbourne like any city has drug use (used to be huge heroin usage but has dropped), and for decades now enlightened policies, e.g. needle exchanges etc.
Possibility of being exposed to "drugs" is near "zero" except maybe see some things late at night in particular areas i.e. near clubs.
Crime rates are same as other cities and according to a Turkish student's mother staying in city, great, she could walk streets at night without a problem on her way to Crown Casino....
The biggest drug problem in Melbourne and Australia is legal i.e. alcohol.....
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My first hand impression was one of shock at the very open abuse of class A drugs. It is true that heroin may be on the decline but that is because it has been replaced by the far cheaper, more dangerous "ice". I have posted before on the subject as I have witnessed more abuse in six months here than I have seen anywhere else in the world, ever.
If you ask any psych. nurse, they, too, will tell you that the problem of drug induced psychosis is at an all time high and rapidly increasing.
The Government is pouring a lot of money into tackling the problem and this is not always welcomed by the tax-paying public. The recently publicised "dial-a-needle" service, which has been likened to "dial-a-pizza" has been applauded and slated in equal measure. Another initiative was to have blue lighting on buses and in public toilets to stop people "shooting up" in these places. The blue lights make it difficult to see veins. A lot of people just think the lights are to make the buses look pretty!
In my opinion, it is vital to give people of all ages the right information so that they can behave responsibly if they are ever faced with the possibility of involvement. The possibility of young people being offered drugs is HIGH. Don't be under ANY illusion about it. It is also good to remember that this huge problem has no social or cultural boundaries and NOBODY is immune from mental health problems. It is often a mental health problem that precipitates drug and alcohol abuse.
Having said all that, crime rates seem very low. Perhaps this is because of initiatives such as the one cited above coupled with the $30 per day allowance that some people are entitled to, over and above their paid accommodation and living expenses. As no pay-outs are made on Saturdays and Sundays, Monday is a bumper day when they get $90 and so the increase of people travelling into the city from the burbs for supplies is obvious, if your eye is trained to spot the tell-tale signs or if you work in an environment directly impacted by this terrible social disease.
Melbourne is by no means alone with this problem. It is a nationwide problem and statistics suggest that it is worse in New Zealand.
As for walking around at night, the city is surprisingly safe and does not have the tense feel that is often palpable in alcohol-fueled European towns and cities. Having said that, random acts of violence do occur just as they do elsewhere in the world. On balance though, Melbourne is a very safe, well-policed city. The Government has also ordered a greater presence of Authorised Officers (transport police type officials) to be present on all trains running after 9pm.
I hope you glean something of interest from this post!