Sugo

What is it with the endemic drug problem in Melbourne. I knew drugs were a major issue before I arrived, and i work in the Health service. But didnt think that it would be so bad. We live in Collingwood in Melbourne, which is a known drug area, but were on a nice street, and live in a security apartment. We have seen people in our garage shooting up, another in the downstairs garden, and a van outside screeched to a halt one morning while i was on the terrace, the guy was smoking either 'P' or heroin from some foil.

Also often see needles in the street. Crime is fairly high in the inner burbs too. Things are getting better an internal circular at friends govt job showed stats to say drug related crime has gone down for both supply and access to drugs. This was due to the recent organised crime operations which included some high profile arrests.

I think people back in the UK should know that Australian cities do have drug problems, I havnt seen the stats myself but when i lived in London, (tooting broadway) i never saw anyone taking drugs. Here in 2 months have seen way more than i thought i would.

moneypenny20

Drugs are everywhere in the world, nowhere is free of them but I am fairly glad I don't live on your street

Sugo

hey totally agree they are everywhere but Melbourne is covered in drug abused people. Never in two years living in New Zealand did i see any drug use, and i worked in the emergency dept.

Here, some suburbs are worse than the others, but it does seem to effect everywhere. You see people who are under the influence on the trians/trams, in the major city streets and parks. Its weird the houses in our street cost at least half to a million dollars, its a nice street, nice houses, nice people. We have a creche across the road, i certainly wouldnt want to have kids if i lived in the city.

Shakmaty

London was way worse than Melbourne for organised drug related crime when I was living there (Camberwell/Ilford/Willesden). However, I haven't been in London for a few years but I can't imagine it is better than here. The needle problem in Melbourne is pretty bad, I agree, and the influx of ice seems to be a big problem.

Vim Fuego

We found evidence of drug 'cultivation' when we bought our house.

They took all the bloody gear with them though, it was probably the bastard Estate Agents now I come to think about it.

Never seen any evidence in Brisbane but then again apparently you can't get a beer after 9pm on a Wednesday so what's the chances of a score?

Shops are crap and the t-shirts fade too, dunno why I stay really ...

ozzieeagle

They must have moved off of Smith St, and into the Side Streets. Smith St was once the Drug Centre of Melbourne, from a scoring point of view, that was back in the late 80's and 90's though. I honestly thought it was cleared up. I've not seen anything in the inner city in recent years, except for around Russell St in the City.

Whats your surrounding main roads ?

Oh I have seen glue sniffers though, there are a few of those around.

Wol

We moved away from the Sydney area partly because of the drug problem. It's endemic here too, but not like Sydney.

Sugo

i love it here, and aint moving, do see it as part of the colourful area. But just hope we dont have any breakins, wouldnt be happy if we lived on the ground floor, without the barred windows, and security alarms and cameras.

We are living between smith and hoddle streets, smith street is getting better, some new boutique shops are starting up, but hope it doesnt go the way of Brunswick st or chapel in south Yarra, think i prefer the beggers and druggies to the trendy day spa types. (no offence) But do find the snooty trendies to be very funny lot.

kez81

its everywhere when i came to oz i never seen junkies at all now only 2.5 years on ive seen quite a few normally in the city its not as bad as where i lived in the uk but give it time i think it will get there

Sagacity

Sugo, you live in the most crime-ridden suburb in metropolitan Melbourne, what else do you expect? Move to a nicer area and you won't see druggies all the time.

Vim Fuego

Well, not the dirty unkempt kind ... there's a better class of drug user in the nicer 'burbs ... none of that blackened-spoon nonsense

Sagacity

Of course... They are more polite there, too . A step up would be St Kilda. Yes, the resident druggies are pretty poor, but there are a lot of cashed-up visitors from all over Melbourne every night. St Kilda Pier is the place of choice to meet and greet these worthy individuals.

The OP's story reminds me of a colleague of mine who lived in St Kilda for years as her partner worked as a chef in one of nearby restaurants, and it was convenient for them, what with his late shifts, and they didn't think the rest of Melbourne was any different.

Police helicopters flew over their street almost every night (police cars don't really go into the area), druggies would call them on the intercom during dinner and try and scam their way in to rob them, there was a squatter living in a shed in the backyard of a house next door who was in the habit of running around naked in the morning...

They finally moved out when the apartment block they rented in was set on fire (there was a drug dealer living in the same block, there was some healthy competition going on between him and another dealer).

MartinLuther

What's 'P'?

Assuming you're not taking it (pun intended)

@boy

When we left Dublin in 2002, we could not believe the amount of young kids we were seeing shooting up on heroin in broad daylight in the middle of Temple Bar (prime tourist attraction in Dublin). Not to mention the increase in muggings at syringe point (I knew 2 people this happened to) and crime that seemed to be everywhere in DUblin at the time.

Been here 5 years now and can honestly say that I have seen nothing like that here in Melbourne.

ozzieeagle

Abbotsford is miles away from Dandenong

Actually the worst suburb in Melbourne award, has always gone to Noble Park. People pay a million bucks for a house down Collingwood way.