Workers from young male shelter Youth Futures and female equivalent Karinya yesterday described the rise in drug use among young people as alarming.

Youth Futures youth worker Darren Cornick said the number  of people as young as 13 accessing drugs such as  ice had risen considerably in the past year.

He said that it was rarely the crisis accommodation’s clients who were under the influence, but instead their friends and visitors.

‘‘You know when they’re under the influence,’’ Mr Cornick said.

‘‘It’s pretty scary to see – the look in their eyes, it’s like they’re not even here. You don’t know what they’re going to do.’’

Mr Cornick said workers were left to contend with young men bashing on doors and trying to break windows, leaving youth workers concerned for everyone’s safety.

‘‘When they’re on this stuff, there’s no reasoning,’’ he said.

‘‘You don’t like seeing young fellas that stuffed up. Six months ago they’d talk to you and go to school, but six months later they’re living under a bridge and bashing old people for their pension money.’’

Mr Cornick and Karinya youth co-ordinator Ria said teenagers were being sent to Melbourne for rehabilitation.

Ria said few people with substance addictions accessed the young women’s shelter but noted that anecdotal evidence supported Mr Cornick’s comments.

She said the issue must be addressed quickly before it became a problem  for Karinya.

‘‘We’re hearing girls talk about it among their friends and peer groups, especially among the really, really young people,’’ she said.

‘‘These young kids often don’t make it to shelters. That’s why we don’t see them here – because if they are in a drug culture, they might find our rules too rigid.’’

Pathways Tasmania offers Hobart-based addiction program Live Free Tassie.

Pathways executive director Stuart Smith said the service saw many clients from the North and North-West.

He noted that Pathways referrals were increasing but said access to existing services should be improved before new facilities were created.

‘‘It’s not wrong to [access help away from home] and it can actually be quite healthy, to think about your life and where it’s going,’’ he said.

‘‘We need stronger access to these services and then look to expand the capacity of these services.’’

He said addressing drug use among young people required a whole-of-community approach.

City Mission chief executive Stephen Brown agreed.

He said the organisation was working with others in the field and government departments to map existing services.

‘‘In dealing with drug and alcohol services with those over 18, we have noticed an increase in people presenting with methamphetamine issues, but statistics across the North of the state would indicate that still the prevalent issue is alcoholism,’’ he said.

The Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to requests for comment by deadline.