CANNABIS 'GREATEST ENEMY'

A Golden Bay man whose son started taking cannabis at 15 says drugs
are the "greatest enemy for parents in the world".

The former teacher says cannabis turned a "bright, intelligent and
charming boy into a depressive adult who has lost his vigour for fife".

Last week a Nelson Alcohol and Drug Service counsellor said children
as young as 12 were being treated for cannabis addiction in Golden
Bay where "well over 100 people" were hooked on the illegal drug.

Welhngton-based Raine Berry said cannabis was the biggest drug
problem in Golden Bay because so many people considered it socially acceptable.

Ms Berry also believed cannabis use in Golden Bay was higher than
most other regions, with the exception of North-land and the East
Coast of the North Is-land.

The former teacher has not seen his son, now an adult living in the
North Is-land, since he paid him a surprise visit on Christmas day
2005, arms full of presents, but was told to leave.

"My son was pale, sloppily dressed and totally stoned in the middle
of the day. He said, 'Go away, I can't handle you here' and I
haven't seen him since."

He first became aware his son took cannabis when he came home from a
party "stoned, deeply distressed and sobbing" at the age of 15.

"I'd never seen him like this before and I didn't know how to handle
it. I really regret now that I did not make drugs a topic to openly
talk about in the family.I was a busy teacher and it was my fault I
turned a blind eye to the problem," he said.

Although his son never smoked cannabis in his presence, it later
developed into a regular habit which has continued ever since.

He says the problem became even worse after Ms son married at 22 a
woman who "believed cannabis was of beneficial use for calm and relaxation".

"She tried to convince me it was a tradition in her tribe and the two
of them have been smoldng it regularly as part of their married life.

"He's now living on the benefit and has never been able to hold down
a job for long. He has ruined his mother financially and he has
never achieved any-thing in his life."