PLAYGROUND BULLIES TARGET MEDICATIONS

SCHOOLCHILDREN with hyperactive disorders are being hassled by playground
"thugs" for their medication, a youth health worker said yesterday.

Victoria Henderson, from the Link Youth Health Service in Hobart, said she
knew of children as young as 12 who were misusing prescription medications
and over-the-counter drugs.

One of the biggest problems was theft and intimidation by bullies who were
after a "rush" from certain drugs used for ADHD (Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder).

Ms Henderson said over-the-counter flu drugs were also being misused.
Certain tablets containing pseudoephedrine were particularly popular among
children seeking a high.

"Young people take several tablets at a time and it speeds them up, like
amphetamines," she said.

"I've also spoken to a few young people with ADHD who are taking medications
such as dexamphetamine and they're being hassled by thugs in the playground
for their medication."

She said some were willingly selling their medication to peers and going
without.

But others were simply intimidated and scared.

"I know of one young boy who came to see me to find out if there was a
natural alternative to the (ADHD) medication.

"He was so desperate for the hassling to stop."

Ms Henderson said drugs used in the treatment of ADHD could have the same
effects as speed.

"It's out there, it's a problem and people need to be made aware of it," she
said.

Ms Henderson applauded measures in some schools where children's medication
was locked away and administered by teachers at the correct times.

But she said over-the-counter drugs were a more difficult problem to tackle
and parents needed to communicate with and observe children.

Ms Henderson said society needed to address the issue of children and drugs.

Her comments follow claims at the weekend that children as young as nine are
selling drugs to their primary school peers in Tasmania.

Tasmanian Council of State School Parents and Friends Associations president
Peter Heazlewood said teachers needed to be careful when children took
medication to school.

He said they needed to use their discretion rather than have a blanket ban
on students being responsible for their own medication.