Teen pot epidemic out of control

[Tom]

Teen pot epidemic out of control

 

MORE than 4000 children and teenagers have been caught with marijuana in three years in Queensland, a new report reveals.

 

 

 

The youngest found with the drug was just 10, according to the review of the State Government's drug diversion initiative – where first-time offenders are given the option of a two-hour rehabilitation session rather than going to court.

 

The review, completed by an independent review team for Queensland Health and the police, says the drug diversion program should continue.

 

The review found more than 12,000 people had been put through the program since it began in June 2001; more than one-third were under 20, by far the largest proportion.

 

More than 400 were aged 15 or under.

 

One senior Queensland solicitor told The Sunday Mail marijuana addiction was widespread among juveniles.

 

Gold Coast solicitor Bill Potts said he was confronted by many young offenders who were convinced the drug could not hurt them.

 

Many of his young clients were "drug drunk" in court, unable to talk to their lawyers because of prolonged marijuana use.

 

"Like any drug that's overused, marijuana has a significant effect, particularly on a young person's mind," said Southport-based Mr Potts.

 

"We often see kids with cannabis intoxication. It's like they're drunk. They're zonked out.

 

"I'm seeing kids who are 13, 14. And it's not just something limited today to young men. More young women are appearing in the Children's Court."

 

The majority of the youths had committed minor offences while under the influence of marijuana – including using obscene language, urinating in a public place or acts of vandalism.

 

He said there had been a "significant increase" in the number of young pedestrians hit while on drugs, or they were driving a motor vehicle and police pulled them over and took a blood test . . . "there's been a significant increase there", he said.

 

"The State Government has to be applauded for what it's done with the drug diversion program but there's still a lot that can be done in education."

 

The disturbing trend of marijuana use among younger people comes as new figures in Britain reveal cannabis addiction is soaring. One in five 15-year-olds in the UK smokes cannabis, placing themselves at great risk of developing schizophrenia in the next decade.

 

Queensland Alcohol and Drug Foundation chief executive Bob Aldred said early treatment of young drug users was essential.

 

"It's a growing phenomenon. We're seeing more people with cannabis-related problems," he said. "We are certainly getting a significant number of people coming to us with cannabis as their drug of choice.

 

"Cannabis is leading to a dependency on drugs. Ten years ago we were not saying that. Now we're saying it's addictive."

 

Mirikai Gold Coast Drug Council director Mary Alcorn said most social workers agreed a strong quality of cannabis, produced by hydroponics, had not helped the drug landscape in Queensland.

 

Author: PAUL WESTON and MARK ALEXANDER

Date: July 4, 2004

Source: The Sunday Mail (Qld)

Copyright: Copyright 2004 News Limited.

 

[Tom]

Related to the above.

 

SCHOOLS DATA SHELVED

 

LATEST research revealing the extent of drug use among secondary students has been left to gather dust by the State Government as the crisis in schools worsens.

Two years after students were surveyed about alcohol and drug use in a study partly funded by the state, Queensland Health has not even analysed the data.

The Opposition has labelled the delay a disgrace, saying the Government was ignoring crucial information.

The Sunday Mail last week revealed that while the Government insists drug use by students is rare, teachers at the coalface are adamant the problem is widespread and growing. About 700 Queensland students are suspended for substance abuse each term, but teachers say schools do not have the resources to tackle the issue.

The best available figures – from a 1998 Australian household survey report – indicate that one in two Queenslanders aged 14 to 19 has used drugs.

However, more up-to-date research is available in the Australian School Students Alcohol and Drugs Survey, which was completed in 2002 but is yet to be released.

A spokeswoman for Education Minister Anna Bligh said Education Queensland had contributed $20,000 to the cost of the survey. As part of the study, researchers collected information directly from students and gave it to Queensland Health to analyse.

"The illicit drugs analysis is still being undertaken by Queensland Health and is due to be released later this year," the spokeswoman said.

Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg called for immediate release of the research. "How long does it take to analyse survey results?" he said. "Ms Bligh knew that this information had been gathered from school students when the Kenmore High School drug controversy broke two weeks ago, but she failed to tell the public, parents, school heads, teachers and police."

A spokesman for Health Minister Gordon Nuttall said Queensland Health did not receive the survey data until April. "We want to get it done as quickly as we can. We're still looking at about three months before it's complete."

Queensland Drug and Alcohol Foundation chief executive Bob Aldred questioned how Ms Bligh could allocate resources and develop programs to deal with drugs in schools without the data.

 

Author: The Sunday Mail (Qld)

Date: July 4, 2004

Source: The Sunday Mail (Qld)

Copyright: Copyright 2004 News Limited.

 

[Nath]

I think it is shocking.. the availability of MJ to children is rediculous. Dealers will sell weed to anyone who will buy now days.. so sad. I started smoking at 15, and I really regret it... I smoked every day with my friends, even asked in class to go to the toilet, but went for a bong around the corner.. all the time. I wish I discovered pot at 17 or older, when I was a bit more mature. Im 21 now and I believe drugs should only be used for medicinal or recreational purposes ... but then, once my grow is over Ill be stoned 24/7 so im being a little hypocritical, and then, this isnt a perfect world either... I wonder if these figures would assist in the legalization of cannabis. I really doubt it would be ever legalized in Australia.. too many figure head people in society have money to make the bill get rejected. Thanks for that info Tom, I never knew there was so many..

[US_Astrolyte]

The majority of the youths had committed minor offences while under the influence of marijuana – including using obscene language, urinating in a public place or acts of vandalism.

 

i love it how they throw these phrases in. they position their words carefully so it appears that ganja is the cause of all these 'minor offences'. yes, using obscene language is ONLY caused by weed, and only people who are stoned would tag something.

 

nobody i know graffs up as just a one off - they do it reguarly, theyve got a tagger group they belong to, and have their own personal tag. they do it whether theyve been smoking or not.

Edited July 8, 2004 by US_Astrolyte

[risingsun]

Although I am against children using drugs for recreational purposes, mainly because Ive read that human brain doesnt finish developing until the late teens, I cant support the idea that it turns them into graffitti vandals, or wanton urinators in public places. The last one just sounds stupid.

Better education and work opportunities would properly help to reduce both forms of behaviour. But I am also a bit of a hypocrite being a former graffitti vanda, underage recreational drug user, and wanton urinator in public places. Jeez it is/was bloody fun!

[Chev]

It's an utter load of crap. I'd love to meet a teen stoner who could actually be fucked doing even half of that shit. It's hard enough to go to maccas when your bent, let alone piss in public ::

I do believe MJ should be left until you're at least 18+, and outta school. It screws with your mind when your 14, 15 yrs old.

[FUKN_BISH]

I think the only thing the government can do about this is legalise marijuana & sell it in the coffee shops to people over the legal age limit.

 

but i started smoking marijuana & ciggies when i was 12 or 13, and it is wide spread between my friends, all of us use to smoke behind the shops before school and on the oval during recess and lunch ... soo i cant really say much. But hey what will the police do if marijuana was legalised ?? wait for domestic disturbance calls & routine patrols ??

 

The worl we live in is operated by an economy ... money simple means power since the early ages. And the law is justice .. but what justice comes out of corrupt police ??? eg. If a police man is arrested for a internation extacy trafficing he will only be discharge from his role as a law enforcement officer but if a normal citizen like myself gets arrested for the same reason i'll be in jail for a minimum of 3 years.

 

Is this really justice ????

[cheebafan]

FUCKIN BISH:

I don't think a cop would be released onto the street if he was caught trafficing pills into the country.

[lookinggoodguys]

2015 Ice epidemic

http://www.abc.net.au/news/story-streams/ice-epidemic/

http://www.sbs.com.au/icetowns/

 

 

Now,11 years down the road kids are more into ice and pills and now get it from the internet...

 

MJ is not really a choice of drug by youth of today 2015..

 

Rather see kids not use any drugs but not reality ...

 

Please legalise cannabis for the better....

Edited August 4, 2015 by lookinggoodguys

[Matanuska Thunder]

Shouts from the top of a high hill (pun intended)

 

 

Who Will Think of the Children

 

 

mumble/grumble/etc

Sigh

 

 

 

 

edit... needed bigger shouting words

Edited August 5, 2015 by Matanuska Thunder