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whitediamonds

[B]A LEADING children's charity says parents in an impoverished western Sydney suburb are giving cannabis to children as young as six to "keep them quiet".[/B]
Counsellors at the Mount Druitt branch of the renowned Ted Noffs Foundation say the disturbing practice is becoming a trend.

"We are seeing six-year-olds being given bongs by their families to keep them quiet, stop them crying, or put them to sleep," clinical psychologist Michael Kirton told [I][URL="http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/"][COLOR=#800080]The Sunday Telegraph[/COLOR][/URL][/I].

"Our counsellors see it being used more and more as a way for families to control the kids and make life easier for the parents."

Mount Druitt and the suburbs flanking it have an average unemployment rate of 20 per cent, which is among the highest in the country.

[URL="http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26033285-12377,00.ht…"][COLOR=#800080]Kids 'kept quiet with cannabis' | The Australian[/COLOR][/URL]

 
RandyWhite

I believe that it is unnormal. Well, you can legalize it for adults, but that is really bad idea for children

 
SikkiNixx

And well done to you too Alz :wave2:

A lot of people sadly get put off the idea of fostering because they think the background checks etc are a long process. I don't know much about it but I think its wonderful people do.

 
Alz

I have been a foster mum for two years now and know how the system works and fails. How those children are ever going to live positive lives is beyond me when they take so damn long to remove them. The parents then have more children only to have it happen again and again.

 
SikkiNixx

Well done Skye on the fostering. We need more caring people like you in the world :wave2:

 
skye

[quote=Alz;931031][I]This is wrong on so many levels. Child protection services here would have a field day with this and the children would immediately be removed from the parents care.[/I]

Skye, I wish that were true here. Sadly, in Australia children are not removed until they are in a coffin or they have suffered so much abuse that they will suffer life long severe emotional issues. The children who are taken into care are often housed in hotels with nannies as there are not enough foster carers to take them in. The system is seriously underfunded and just does not work. The government goes on about how they take the issue seriously but in reality they are just talking the talk. Foster carers become carers because they have huge hearts and certainly not for monetary gain as the payments do not cover costs at all and there are always out of pocket expenses. Children at risk should be a high priority for every government but this is not the case at all. :tissue:[/quote]

That really breaks my heart to hear that. You are right, children at risk should be a priority for every government.

We have a foster care system here, and I've been a foster parent for the last few years.

It is so sad to see children with such emotional damage. They should be enjoying their childhood, but it isn't always the case.

I hope for the children's sake that the method of help changes soon.

I became active in the foster care system when my neighbors kids were faced with living in the system and I couldn't bear them to be with strangers with all that they were coping with. I took them in and they have recently been reunited with members of their biological family.

:tissue:

 
Alz

[I]This is wrong on so many levels. Child protection services here would have a field day with this and the children would immediately be removed from the parents care.[/I]

Skye, I wish that were true here. Sadly, in Australia children are not removed until they are in a coffin or they have suffered so much abuse that they will suffer life long severe emotional issues. The children who are taken into care are often housed in hotels with nannies as there are not enough foster carers to take them in. The system is seriously underfunded and just does not work. The government goes on about how they take the issue seriously but in reality they are just talking the talk. Foster carers become carers because they have huge hearts and certainly not for monetary gain as the payments do not cover costs at all and there are always out of pocket expenses. Children at risk should be a high priority for every government but this is not the case at all. :tissue:

 
skye

[quote=peanut2;930958][B]A LEADING children's charity says parents in an impoverished western Sydney suburb are giving cannabis to children as young as six to "keep them quiet".[/B]
Counsellors at the Mount Druitt branch of the renowned Ted Noffs Foundation say the disturbing practice is becoming a trend.

"We are seeing six-year-olds being given bongs by their families to keep them quiet, stop them crying, or put them to sleep," clinical psychologist Michael Kirton told [I][URL="http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/"][COLOR=#800080]The Sunday Telegraph[/COLOR][/URL][/I].

"Our counsellors see it being used more and more as a way for families to control the kids and make life easier for the parents."

Mount Druitt and the suburbs flanking it have an average unemployment rate of 20 per cent, which is among the highest in the country.

[URL="http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26033285-12377,00.ht…"][COLOR=#800080]Kids 'kept quiet with cannabis' | The Australian[/COLOR][/URL][/quote]

Now this is just wrong. Whatever happened to learning good or better parenting skills.

I'm sure they will get a slap on the wrist for this, or maybe even nothing at all, but seriously this is wrong and the parents need some form of punishment. Even if the punishment is parenting classes.

This is enabling drug use for a child and will only lead to more severe drugs when they get older and or a life long addiction.

This is wrong on so many levels. Child protection services here would have a field day with this and the children would immediately be removed from the parents care.

 
Alz

Sad, disgusting and evil!!!!!!!!!

 
SikkiNixx

My God this is what the mother did to the 2 boys in the UK who are on trial for torturing 2 other lads. In my opinion drugs are not the answer to keeping children quiet.