Pubdate: Mon, 07 Jul 2008
Source: Sunderland Echo (UK)
Copyright: 2008 Johnston Press Digital Publishing
Contact:  http://www.sunderland-echo.co
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4121
Author: Fiona Thompson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom)

CHILDREN AGED 12 ON CANNABIS

Youth workers believe they have seen a surge in the number of young 
people smoking cannabis on our streets in recent months.

Seaham Youth Initiative's workers take to the streets to speak to 
young people and offer them support.

They say although alcohol is still the most abused substance among 
the 11 to 25-year-olds they speak to, staff have become aware of an 
increase in the number of those using the drug.

The organisation say it is aware of children as young as 12 taking 
it, with the substance sometimes mixed with drink.

It comes just days after a huge discovery of cannabis in the town. 
Cannabis plants with a street value of about UKP300,000 were 
recovered after a raid at a house on Ambleside Drive.

Mick Waters, youth development worker with SYI, said: "A lot of the 
young people we are working with are using it, some more than others, 
but there's no age in particular."

"I would say over the past couple of months we've found a lot of 
young people have got easy access to marijuana.

"We can't lecture them over it, but we can chat through it with them 
and we don't find out who's dealing it or how much they are paying.

"We will talk to them about the dangers of it and where they're doing 
it and in relation to the dangers of that."

The workers, who fill out assessments following each of their street 
sessions, say they are continuing to monitor the issue and have 
raised the subject in the hope parents and others will be made aware 
of the increase.

Neighbourhood Inspector Vince Addison, who leads police in the Seaham 
area, urged people living in the town to come forward with 
information which will help continue the crackdown on drugs in the area.

Inspector Addison said: "I'd say that we treat info of this sort very 
seriously.

"Indeed, tackling drug problems is a priority for both Durham 
Constabulary and the Easington Community Safety Partnership.

"Earlier this year we made the large cannabis seizure in Deneside and 
we will continue to act on information we receive from the community 
to make sure that the community is protected from the effects of drug use.

"I encourage anyone with such information to contact us."

Although there has been a perceived increase in recent months, Durham 
Constabulary says there has been a drop in the number of young people 
it has dealt with for drugs offences.

Statistics reveal that throughout its force area last year, 53 under 
17s were arrested for possession of drugs, four were arrested for 
supplying drugs and four were arrested for intent to supply.

The year before those numbers show 54 were arrested for possession of 
drugs, 11 were arrested for supplying drugs and one was arrested for 
intent to supply.

Information about drugs can be found at www.talktofrank.com, with 
details of local services available from www.codurhamdat.org.uk.

Durham Constabulary can be contacted on 0845 60 60 365 and 
Crimestoppers anonymously 0800 555 111.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom