Six-year-olds given cannabis, says Ted Noffs Foundation

[grace]

PARENTS in an impoverished western Sydney suburb are plying children as young as six with cannabis to "keep them quiet", a leading children's charity has revealed.

 

Counsellors at the Mount Druitt branch of the renowned Ted Noffs Foundation say the disturbing practice is becoming a trend.

 

"We are seeing six-year-olds being given bongs by their families to keep them quiet, stop them crying, or put them to sleep," clinical psychologist Michael Kirton said.

 

"Our counsellors see it being used more and more as a way for families to control the kids and make life easier for the parents."

 

Mount Druitt and the suburbs flanking it have an average unemployment rate of 20 per cent, which is among the highest in the country.

 

"Kids are growing up in families who haven't worked in three or four generations and they believe taking drugs is normal because that's all they know," Mr Kirton said.

 

"Mount Druitt is a bit of a war zone for us, unfortunately."

 

To cater to the rising demand for services for under-age addicts, the Ted Noffs Foundation launched PALM, a residential program for teens aged between 14 and 18 with chronic drug and alcohol addictions, in June.

 

Now PALM, which stands for Program for Adolescent Life Management, regularly receives requests to take on children as young as 12.

 

"These are kids with really entrenched addictions to alcohol, drugs or both," programs manager Mark Ferry said.

 

"To get to that state by such a young age, you're looking at taking your first drink or (marijuana) smoke when you're eight or nine."

 

Too young to mix with most of the PALM residents, addicts under 12 are treated as out-patients at related services which are scattered across Sydney, Mr Ferry said.

 

Foundation assistant manager Dan Lea said many of the program's residents came from "highly dysfunctional" families, with a history of substance abuse.

 

"There's a lot of trauma suffered by the time they get here," he said.

 

"Some of them have been sexually abused, some of them have parents in jail, so they have been in and out of care."

 

Not all are from impoverished homes. According to Mr Kirton, many belong to wealthy families and attend exclusive private schools. At PALM, residents are taught basic life skills during a three-month program, after which they receive follow-up care for 12 months.

 

They each have an action plan to guide them through each day, from brushing their teeth to cleaning their rooms and organising meals and activities.

 

They are also provided with training and with employment opportunities.

 

Findings from a three-month post-treatment study of the effectiveness of PALM showed significant reductions in alcohol and cannabis use, Mr Kirton said.

 

PALM has in-patient services at Randwick, Dubbo, Coffs Harbour and Canberra.

 

Date: 6 September 2009

Source: The Sunday Telegraph

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,26030025-421,00.html

[sirfro]

Wow... I don't know what to say to this. I feel so sorry for the kids who have to grow up in homes like that.

[jabez]

Typical media reporting. They get the worst of cases then report it like it's the norm.

 

I used to know heaps of kids that were allowed to sit in there room all day smoking weed, when they were like 12 years old and I've also known ONE pretty fucked up family from the commision houses in box hill who used to give weed to there 9 year old son, but that is an extreme example. I don't beleive that there's some huge problem of parents giving there 6 year old kids weed.

Edited September 6, 2009 by jabez

[Radic]

Foundation assistant manager Dan Lea said many of the program's residents came from "highly dysfunctional" families, with a history of substance abuse.

 

"There's a lot of trauma suffered by the time they get here," he said.

 

"Some of them have been sexually abused, some of them have parents in jail, so they have been in and out of care."

 

these poor youth are suffering from PTSD leading to many more ailments

 

cannabis releves and controles these symptons and is safer than any other available treatment

IMHO

that is the best ting a parent can do

now sadly the Ted Noffs Foundation say

they take it away and replace it with

At PALM, residents are taught basic life skills during a three-month program, after which they receive follow-up care for 12 months.

IMHO

that is cruel and harsh to do to allready suffering youth

i will not support that

[saltbox]

Of course as these kids grow up their early cannabis use will be blamed for their problems. Ignoring the fact that their lazy parents couldn't be bothered teaching them proper rules/discipline so just gave em a bong to shut them up. So the poor kids grow up without proper social skills because of their shitty parents.

[flatcat_auz]

Radic,

I think your definition of 'life skills' and what the program actually sets out to achieve with these young people are different. Life skills refers to cooking, budgeting, paying bills and general day to day activities you and me may, take for granted. Often children and adults who are exposed to trauma or chaotic family upbringing, due to addiction or mental health issues, do not develop these skills and that's where the term inter generational welfare dependency often fits in.

 

Programs such as these, takes the kids out of these chaotic lifestyles and provide a safe, structured environment where skills such as using a washing machine and preparing nutritious meals are taught. I have worked with adults teaching living skills and it is no surprise to find they are unable to complete these simple tasks as they never had the opportunity or accommodation for that matter learn these skills. They are also provided with counseling services so they can start to develop a sense of self worth and in turn they learn to treat their bodies and minds ensuring that their are able to access education or employment which where previously unattainable. Early intervention with these kids can be of great benefit to kids in those situations.

 

Some of these programs have elements to them that may or may not be of use to these guys or may not even sit comfortable with your value system but after working with some if these kids, I know where I would rather see them.

 

Additional to this is that PTSD can be treated successfully, drug free (prescription or otherwise) through counseling or Cognitive Behaviuor therapy. It is my personal opinion that developing young brains should steer clear of any medications/drugs. Unless there is a clear need (i.e confirmed diagnosis of a underlying mental health issue). INMO cannabis should not be used to treat aliments in children until definite peer reviewed research is undertaken. But we all know that until the government changes the laws this research cannot take place (et al 2000 NSW Govt. Review of Medicinal Use of Cannabis).

Edited September 6, 2009 by flatcat_auz

[Radic]

i hear you Flatcat

life skills are a must

counseling services are irey too

that is not the part i canan support

 

taking away safe medicinal cannabis which is the best treatment for PTSD or ADHD

and replacing it with dangerous drugs with heavy side effects

is the part i dont get

IMHO

they are just trying to scape goat cannabis for the predickerment they are in

and that is the part i canna support

infact cannabis would be the best treatment for their ailments

then they can learn their life skills successfully

and counseling services will be more effective too

 

i am not throwing stones at the parents either

IMHO

they do love their youth

and with the right support, at the right time

they would love to be able to raise their children in a healthy loving enviroment

 

so i am pointing the finger at the ---> lack of support for the parents

the so called carers, socal workers, counseling services all let them slip tru their fingers

and instead all they do is pickup the pieces

now the best they can come up with is a BS story scape goating cannabis

that is the ugly side i object too

[mrsmokey1]

i hear ya radic but under say 16 i wudnt agree with it either maybe giving cannabis oil or something but not smoking.

[MadamePandora]

I can't say I agree with children that young smoking anything.

 

However I suspect the number of parents giving children alcohol underage is far greater than the number giving children bong hits.

 

Perhaps alcohol should be banned.

[Closet Grower]

. Ignoring the fact that their lazy parents couldn't be bothered teaching them proper rules/discipline so just gave em a bong to shut them up. So the poor kids grow up without proper social skills because of their shitty parents.

EXACTLY ,,, kids these days have NO discipline ,, as the LAW says you cant give them a smack on the bottom ,, so they grow up being little shits ! Teenagers these days get around with a scowl on their face thinking the world owes them something ! They are arrogant little cunts and need a good whooping ,, just like Dogs do to their pups !

I do agree that kids should not be given drugs to settle them down !

All these kids with ADD or whatever are a result of the community not being allowed to tell their kids , " Settle Down or you will get a smack and sent to bed " Instead the doctors prescribe speed in the way of Dexamphetimine etc instead of a bit of discipline.

Edited September 7, 2009 by Closet Grower