Pubdate: Thu, 29 Sep 2005
Source: Otago Daily Times (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2005 Allied Press Limited
Contact:  http://www.odt.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/925
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

CANNABIS USE BY YOUNG RIFE

Cannabis use by school-aged children in Alexandra is exploding, says
Central Otago Mayor Malcolm Macpherson.

"We have significantly underestimated the level of drug use among our
young people in Alexandra," he said yesterday. "There has been a
common view in Central Otago that this is a problem somewhere else.
But that can catch up with you. It's a much bigger problem than most
people realise."

Police in Alexandra said yesterday teenage alcohol use was a bigger
problem.

But Dr Macpherson, who is Otago Forward chairman and an Otago District
Health Board member, said he recently held meetings with local parents
and Dunstan High School principal David Smyth, who were concerned at
drug use by children.

Mr Smyth is in England and could not be reached for comment
yesterday.

A trust is to be set up involving parents, youth workers and schools
to examine the issue.

A refuge for young people struggling with drugs might also be
established, Dr Macpherson said.

"We need some sort of refuge where kids can just drop out and get
themselves back into some sort of shape."

Life Education Trust mentor Trevor Grice had been approached to hold a
drug education programme for parents in Alexandra.

The issue "needed oxygen" to find a solution, Dr Macpherson
said.

"My view is that there is quite a bit of denial, not just in Central
Otago but around the country. It hasn't been an issue here till
recently, but it's increasingly becoming an issue, particularly among
young kids."

Dr Macpherson said Years 9 and 10 pupils - and even primary school
children - were known to be using cannabis and herbal party pills regularly.

While party pills were legal, they contributed to the problem by
"normalising" drugs, he said.

"The barrier to entry into drugs nowadays is almost
invisible."

A 13-year-old Alexandra schoolboy spoken to by the Otago Daily Times
yesterday said cannabis and herbal party pill use by youths was common
in the town.

Another 14-year-old said cannabis "tinnies" were readily available and
dealt among school friends for $20-$25.

"Heaps of my mates are into it. It's just fun getting
out-of-it."

Both agreed cannabis use was increasing among their
peers.

Dr Macpherson said he had been dealing with several Alexandra families
"destroyed" by children using cannabis.

"This is certainly a big enough problem that we need to do something
about it and, in some ways, it's even more difficult to deal with than
alcohol because it's not so visible."

Alexandra Combined Churches youth worker Roger Williams said he had
noticed a "marked increase" in drug-associated problems with local
youths.

"It's having an impact on young people and the families of young
people," he said yesterday.

"There has always been drugs about, but it's affecting the kids
younger. They're experimenting at 13 or 14 now, rather than 17 or 18."

"I think it's really the cultural thing we have to address. Alcohol
was a cultural thing for me growing up in middle New Zealand. We have
to change that and show our young people that you don't have to go out
and drink to excess or smoke pot to escape things."

Senior Sergeant Mike Cook, of Alexandra, said alcohol was the main
problem drug with local youths and cannabis and herbal party pill use
by local teenagers created few issues for police.

"We don't catch a lot of people that age with cannabis and we're not
seeing it many cannabis prosecutions through the youth or district
courts.

"It's certainly not as widespread as most other communities I've
worked in around New Zealand."

Shearers and fruit-pickers are also understood to be regular cannabis
users.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake