I read this article in the national news section of Stuff.co.nz this morning….
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/7026881/Stoned-drunk-and-under-13
Horrifying, but not shocking was the immediate thought I had; there is no surprise for me here because our government has repeatedly NOT met the needs of children and young people in this country. As a registered alcohol and drug practitioner I have met the kids of the parents I’ve treated and many of them will take the same route as their parents, NOT necessarily because of bad parenting as many would have us believe, but because government has also NOT met the needs of people struggling with addictions and the underlying (dare I say causal factor) trauma that leads people to cope by using addictive substances and engaging in addictive behaviour.
What kind of future will our country/world have when these vulnerable, already traumatized children become parents, as many of them will….?
