Youth matters were highlighted at a Newcastle Community Drug Action Forum in City Hall yesterday.

Christine Martin, of the Salvation Army’s Newcastle Bridge Youth and Family program, told the forum that cannabis was a big problem.

The program supports Hunter residents aged 12 to 25 and their families.

‘‘We’ve just increasingly had a problem with cannabis,’’ she said. ‘‘We’re probably finding the average age is 15 to 16, where young people are really quite hooked on cannabis.’’

‘‘And we’re dealing with the families who are trying to deal with this grief and this, you know, tragedy of what’s happening with the kids.’’

Ms Martin said programs were lacking in Newcastle to help young people come off cannabis.

Alcohol was also a problem for youth, she said.

Hunter student and NSW Youth Advisory Council member Alexander Leighton, 17, said recreational drug use among his peers was a concern.

While he had no personal experience of drugs or alcohol, he knew teenagers who thought it was OK to drink or use other drugs.

‘‘It’s the sensation of getting drunk,’’ Alex said.

‘‘Once the sensation has worn off people start leading to other drugs.’’

These youngsters were not stereotypical drug users, and included people from families with money, Alex said.

‘‘They’re more interested in drugs that create a party atmosphere, ecstasy, alcohol, cannabis,’’ he said.

The forum resolved yesterday to pursue a range of strategies including: lobbying government to increase finance for drug support and rehabilitation; education programs for children and parents; and social media campaigns.

HEALTH and social workers, emergency services personnel and community members are calling on government to help the Hunter address its drug and alcohol problems.

More than 100 people gathered yesterday for a forum at Newcastle City Hall.

Newcastle Community Drug Action Team organised the event.

Community Drug Action Teams are across NSW and comprise individuals, service providers and business and church groups who work together to develop practical solutions for alcohol and drug problems affecting their communities.

Yesterday’s forum members acknowledged that alcohol and drugs had a serious effect on the people of the Hunter.

They resolved to call on all levels of government to listen and act to address their concerns, including:

* Reducing the trading hours and density of licensed premises;

* Enforcing Responsible Service of Alcohol restrictions;

* Introducing the Newcastle trading restrictions on pubs to other high-risk areas in NSW;

* Increasing funding for drug support, rehabilitation and reintegration programs;

* Introducing education programs for children and parents;

* Financing research and evaluation of alcohol and other drug programs.

Delegates said they would contact politicians as part of efforts to lobby government.

Public health specialists also presented findings, as reported in the Newcastle Herald on Monday, that three-quarters of Lower Hunter residents surveyed supported trading restrictions on Newcastle pubs.

The public health research on the restrictions also showed reductions of up to 50per cent in alcohol-related assaults, street offences and hospital emergency department presentations.