Pubdate: 15 May 2001 Source: Dominion, The (New Zealand) Copyright: 2001 The Dominion Contact: http://www.inl.co.nz/wnl/dominion/index.html Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/128 YOUNG PEOPLE GOING TO POT Amid all the contending viewpoints about what should be done about cannabis and other drugs, one question is pivotal. The Dominion asks in an editorial: What is in the best interests of our young people? In the debate about whether to continue the current ban on cannabis, decriminalise its use or remove all legal restraints, that question is rarely given the prominence it deserves. It is young people who are most at risk. For them, smoking cannabis is not a benign pastime with minimal effects. Regular use can prevent the cells of the maturing brain from making connections. Cannabis impacts on short-term memory. It diminishes their ability to think and plan ahead. It impairs learning. Little wonder, then, that school principals and boards are among the most outspoken opponents of any softening of the law, as advocated by adult cannabis users and trendy politicians. Too often have schools seen promising students turn to cannabis and go into a tailspin. While teachers work hard to develop children's abilities and lay a solid foundation for their future in the "knowledge society", their efforts are undermined when their pupils seek solace in pot. The appeal of the drug comes partly from peer pressure, partly from the lure of forbidden fruit, partly from doing what is "cool". The odds are tilted against some young people by the rotten example set by their dope-smoking elders, who in some homes include parents. For young people under psychological stress, cannabis may seem a way to cope. It is alarmingly easy to come by. But acknowledging how pervasive the drug has become is no reason for society to agree to place in their way another obstacle to growing up ñ as if alcohol and tobacco were not hurdles enough. Schools have to meet the needs of all their pupils. That begins with making the school environment safe for everyone by keeping cannabis and other drugs out. Ten years ago it was common to issue a warning that anyone found with drugs on school premises would be automatically expelled. This had the merit of being clear and effective ñ but it fell foul of court decisions that each case had to be considered in the light of its own circumstances, and discretion must be applied in deciding the penalty. Some parents and educators also considered expulsion to be unduly harsh: the school system is there to educate young people to learn, and that becomes impossible if no school will have them. The current emphasis on rehabilitation is more constructive. In many schools cannabis offenders are disciplined and, with parental approval, are asked to sign a contract in which they agree to be randomly tested for a period to show they are clear of drugs. That has the added advantage of giving an opportunity to provide professional assessment and treatment, since dabbling with drugs is often an indication that a young person has other problems as well. Those problems are broader than drug use ñ and there is a pressing need for the Government to bolster schools' efforts by ensuring there are adequate psychological services available, geared to young people's needs.