Media Release
6 October 2003

New Strategies Needed For Junior Addicts

New Zealand First has called for new strategies to help the families of an increasing number of juvenile drug users.

Family affairs spokesperson Barbara Stewart said that 13 and 14 year olds were now emerging as users of P and this is becoming known to police, schools and social agencies.

“The systems for dealing with very young drug users are somewhat cumbersome and the residential facilities available to them will not be sufficient if the problem escalates as it has the potential to do.”

“The Government must ensure that residential facilities and the necessary health resources are available to ensure that treatment has a reasonable chance of success, said Mrs Stewart.

“The worst case scenario is that we will have a growing population of children under the age of 14 who need intervention in their lives because of drug use and the accompanying anti-social behaviour.

“The parents of children in this situation have limited options and we need to be looking for solutions, including increased education for parents, before the problem escalates out of control,” said Mrs Stewart.

ENDS

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