Increase In Teen-age Drug Addiction ‘Alarming’

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31663, 26 April 1968, Page 24

Increase In Teen-age Drug Addiction ‘Alarming’

(New Zealand Press Association) MASTERTON, April 25. “Criminal drug abuse is mainly a big-city problem, and it is not necessarily the known criminal who is involved in this illegal abuse,” Chief Detective Superintendent R. J. Walton, of Wellington, said in Masterton last night.

Addressing a capacity crowd at the third of a series of four lectures on “your better health,” organised by the Masterton St John Ambulance Association, Mr Walton said drug abuse had become more common in New Zealand in the last four or five years.

The police statistics on drugs in New Zealand in the past were dominated by elderly Chinese opium addicts and before 1956 there were no reports of Europeans taking drugs, Mr Walton said. The pattern had altered considerably and since 1957, when one European was convicted of a drug offence, the number had steadily risen. Ten persons made Court appearances for drug offences in 1963, 28 in 1966, and 60

(all Europeans) in 1967, he said. “In the first quarter of this year 31 persons faced a total of 58 charges and if this pattern is continued 120 persons will have been charged by the end of the year, an increase of 100 per cent on the past two years. "It is alarming to note that this year 39 of the 58 charges before the courts have involved persons under

21 years of age,” he said. “We know why adults take drugs. They have no willpower and cannot face up to their problems. But the major question as to why young people of 13,14 and 15 years of age become addicted is only just being answered. “Many are being permitted by their parents to become exposed to a type of big city night life with which they are unable to cope. “This is a big problem amongst younger people. They become involved in certain gangs and by pure association with the wrong company—a person already on drugs—they become caught up,” he said. “They are simply not prepared, not old enough to handle the problems and when they become tempted they will fall. “The initial stages of a young person taking drugs are very difficult to detect. Unusual behaviour by a young person is a job for a doctor,” Mr Walton said.

“For the good of the community all possible steps should be taken to ensure the problem does not expand, and to ensure this we should endeavour to aim for three things: “Remove the source of supply. Inform the police if you know where drugs are being obtained. “Recognise that addicts are sick and in need of assistance. Counsel them and seek medical help for them. “Advise young people of the dangers of drugs unless prescribed medically. Educate parents in turn to educate their children.”