PARENTS GET HELPING HAND TO FIGHT DRUGS

Many parents think addiction is a problem "other people's children"
face, a drug and alcohol campaigner says.

Taranaki parents wondering if their children are taking illegal drugs
are about to get a helping hand from the Managers' Guild Trust.

The trust, formed by senior police, will distribute a journal early in
the New Year to give parents the latest information about drugs
available to children today.

Campaign co-ordinator Jeremy Anderson said most parents liked to think
other people's kids used drugs, rather than their own children.

"This is not a good mindset, as peer pressure can be a big thing in
any teenager's life.

"No one wants to imagine that their kid is going to be getting
involved in that lifestyle, but no one is exempt," Mr Anderson said.

P use was in every walk of life.

New Zealand was slow reacting to the existence of methamphetamine type
drugs.

"We have been caught out with P in this country, because it has come
in the last five years and has made a heck of an impact with all of
the people who deal and use drugs."

Parents also saw taking drugs as a typical teenage thing that most
kids tried, he said.

"We can't let most kids try meth. The thing is highly addictive and
highly expensive, so it turns into a problem rapidly."

Users resorted to selling the drug or crime to pay for their
habit.

Mr Anderson said he hoped the campaign would make parents aware of the
danger signs to look for if their teenager was using drugs.

"Prevention is the key. It is 10 times harder to get someone to quit
once they have started."

Open communication between parents and teenagers about drug use was
the best way to keep them safe.

"Don't just say, 'look don't do drugs because they are illegal', but
actually give them reasons why.

"The best thing a parent can do is be knowledgeable of where these
drugs can take their kids and convince their kids not to go down that
path," Mr Anderson said.

Legally available and popular party pills were seen as the gateway to
harder, more serious drug abuse.

"Our theory would be that kids who might not have used drugs are now
realising these party pills are legal, so it kind of suggests they
should try it."

Mr Anderson said once the novelty of party pills wore off, young
people could be seduced by a better hit.