Pubdate: Sat, 09 Jun 2001
Source: Southland Times (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2001, Southland Times Company Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.the-times.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1041
Author: Sue Fea

PARENTS WARNED OF DRUG DANGERS

Parents have been warned about long-lasting physical and intellectual 
dangers of cannabis on growing teenage brains in a hard-hitting plea from 
Wakatipu High School.

The warning from school principal Kevin Orlowski and board of trustees 
chairwoman Ann Mann in yesterday's school newsletter listed tell-tale clues 
for parents suspecting cannabis use in their child.

Not only should they watch out for fits of "the munchies" and 
"uncontrollable giggles," but parents were warned to check their kitchen 
drawers and watch for dwindling deodorant supplies.

"You may also notice money and kitchen utensils disappearing, lots of 
deodorant being used or a sweet herbal tea like smell," the newsletter warned.

The report comes just over a week after a third former was suspended and 
six other 13-year-old students temporarily stood down for smoking cannabis 
at a school camp.

The report stressed the heightened health dangers of cannabis use on 
maturing young adults.

The effect of cannabis on the brain and reproductive systems was much worse 
on a young growing body, Mr Orlowski said.

Students who smoked cannabis were very difficult to teach because the drug 
affected the short term memory functions of the brain, the call to parents 
said.

"This leads to students forgetting they were ever taught or ever did some 
things, making marijuana smokers very difficult to teach," it said.

"If they do use drugs while they are young then we will find it impossible 
to get them anywhere near their potential."

The community needed to buy in to the drug-free message for all its young 
people and "help stop marijuana stealing our kids' future," the report said.

"A weekend smoker is impaired all week," Mr Orlowski's report said.

Mr Orlowski's report likened cannabis effects on teenagers to those of 
weedkiller on a young growing tree.

An adult tree sprayed with Roundup turned yellow and then recovered. "Spray 
a small amount onto a young tree and if you don't kill it, you will deform 
it for life.".

He outlined the school's extensive drug education programme.

The school's campaign had included several visits from police sniffer dogs.

Counselling, drug testing and other support was available to students and 
parents, "but obviously the message isn't being received," Mr Orlowski said.

Mrs Mann said parents needed to be aware of the danger of drugs and alcohol 
on growing brains.
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