NSW: Homeless hostel sees worrying trend in ice use

AAP General News (Australia)
12-12-2006
NSW: Homeless hostel sees worrying trend in ice use

The Salvation Army says staff at a prominent Sydney homeless hostel are being assaulted
by a significant increase of people using the drug ice.

The organisation says up to 20 per cent of people visiting their Foster House Hostel
in Surry Hills are now under the influence of ice.

Manager BOB SEYMOUR says staff at the hostel have been assaulted when the crystal methamphetamine
users become aggressive .. forcing the Salvation Army to spend 650-thousand dollars on
improving its security measures.



An internal Salvation Army report into the Foster House has found a worrying trend
towards clients presenting with severe drug intoxication and mental illness.

The report says influences such as ice have put great pressure on the hostel .. and
a greater number of staff have been forced to take stress leave as a result of being assaulted
by clients.

Medical experts and law enforcement agencies will attend a national conference in Sydney
on Thursday on how to tackle ice addiction.

AAp RTV nr/psm/

KEYWORD: ICE (SYDNEY)

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