Youth MP’s hear concerns on ‘out-dated’ approach to drug abuse in teens

Youth Parliament Health Select Committee members were told today that drug use was “a normal part of Kiwi youth culture” by a leading rehabilitation specialist.

But Catherine McCullogh from the NZ Drug Foundation told her teenage audience that the Misuse of Drugs Act disproportionately affects young people.

McCullogh and many Youth MPs want that to change.

McCollogh and other submitters want more drug education and “wrap-around support” rather than what she described as a “blind faith” approach in schools.

“We know that being in school, generally, protects teenagers from the impacts of drug abuse…what we need is an informed, cross-agency programme to get a conversation going [regarding drug abuse].”

Youth MP Angela Curtis questioned McCollogh’s assertion that more than $4million was spent annually to imprison criminals, mainly aged between 18 and 24, on drugs charges.

“Wouldn’t the health education and rehabilitation programme for students cost even more?”

The select committee members will this afternoon and tomorrow consider submissions on the inquiry into whether young people are taking enough responsibility for reducing and preventing substance abuse.

Youth MP’s canvassed opinions within their own communities before Youth Parliament, to see if locals feel the Government could do more curb drug abuse.

Amy Williams, Youth MP for Coromandel, said her community feedback found, despite McCollogh’s research, peer pressure and bullying within schools actually led to drug use.

Charm Skinner, Youth MP for Hauraki-Waikato said her own experience of moving out of a broken home illustrated the support a wider whanau and school community can provide for troubled youth.

Some Youth MPs said more could be done to strengthen the drug laws currently in place.

Jack Allison, the Youth MP representing Labour MP Moana Mackey, said his own experience continually buying cigarettes underage, showed an inconsistency in the retail enforcement of age limits.

The Select Committee also heard from acting Deputy Director of Health Chai Chuak and clinical psychologist Andre MacLauchlan.

The group will produce a report on the issue tomorrow, before Youth Parliament closes for 2013.

ENDS

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