Pubdate: Thu, 08 Mar 2007
Source: Nelson Mail, The (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2007 Fairfax New Zealand Limited
Contact:  http://www.nelsonmail.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1069
Author: Hayley Gale, The Nelson Mail
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

CANNABIS SCOURGE IN GOLDEN BAY

Children as young as 12 are being treated for cannabis addiction in 
Golden Bay where "well over 100 people" are hooked on the illegal 
drug, a Nelson Alcohol and Drug Service counsellor says.

Wellington-based Raine Berry said on Wednesday that cannabis was the 
biggest drug problem in Golden Bay because so many people considered 
it socially acceptable. Ms Berry also believed cannabis use in Golden 
Bay was higher than most other regions, with the exception of 
Northland and the East Coast of the North Island.

Last week, Nelson police iwi liaison officer Archdeacon Harvey 
Whakaruru said at a public address in Takaka that the highly 
addictive drug methamphetamine or P had reached Golden Bay. But Ms 
Berry said cannabis was the biggest drug problem in the area.

"There are well over 100 people with a significant cannabis problem. 
I've seen people as young as 12 and quite a number of 14-year-olds 
addicted to cannabis in Golden Bay.

"It's considered by many to be harmless but it's not at all. People 
can certainly become addicted. They may sometimes smoke it up to six 
times a day."

She said that, in most communities, alcohol was the biggest problem, 
followed by cannabis, but in Golden Bay it was "the other way around".

The most common withdrawal symptoms of cannabis dependency included 
moodiness, agitation and insomnia, she said.

"Cannabis in Golden Bay is so widespread and socially acceptable. In 
fact it's not difficult to get most drugs in Golden Bay if you know 
who to ask."

Ms Berry said there was also a re-emergence of the use of the 
hallucinogen LSD in Golden Bay, as well as considerable use of party pills.

Methamphetamine was a far greater problem in Nelson than Golden Bay, she said.

"It is a very dangerous drug but it's not yet much of a problem in 
Golden Bay. Most users I've come across developed their addiction to 
P elsewhere and came home to dry out."

Ms Berry spends two days a fortnight in Golden Bay counselling people 
with drug and alcohol problems, but said she could easily spend two 
days a week there, due to demand.

Golden Bay High School principal Roger File said the school had a 
"zero tolerance" policy to the use of alcohol and drugs in school.

Mr File believed alcohol use was more widespread among young people 
than cannabis and was aware that some pupils undoubtedly took drugs 
and alcohol at weekends. However, it had been five years since a 
pupil had been caught with drugs on school premises and suspended.

As well as a drug and alcohol education programme, the school also 
had a policy of collaborating with police if a student was found with drugs.

Nelson Bays police district area commander Inspector Brian McGurk 
agreed that cannabis use was the biggest illegal drug problem in Golden Bay.

He also rejected the view that it was a harmless drug, and said it 
was an aggravating factor in almost all cases of mental illness in 
young people in Golden Bay.

However, he said the biggest drug problem faced by police in the top 
of the south region was alcohol.

Methamphetamine was also "widely used" in Nelson, and not isolated to 
a small group of users.

There were 472 cannabis offences in Nelson city and Tasman district 
last year, most of which were for possession, he said.

Traditional class A and B drugs such as heroin and LSD accounted for 
25 offences, while there were 34 methamphetamine offences.

Takaka police figures showed there were around 65 drug-related 
offences a year in Golden Bay. Last year 16 of those were for 
cultivating or dealing in cannabis.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom