This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7042881.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Parents 'ignorant about cannabis' | Parents 'ignorant about cannabis' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Police chiefs are accusing parents of showing ignorance and complacency in the face of widespread cannabis use among teenage children. | Police chiefs are accusing parents of showing ignorance and complacency in the face of widespread cannabis use among teenage children. |
| The Association of Chief Police Officers says many parents do not understand the serious health risks of newer, more potent strains of the drug. | The Association of Chief Police Officers says many parents do not understand the serious health risks of newer, more potent strains of the drug. |
| It is calling on parents to show zero tolerance to help stamp out use of the class C drug. | |
| Government figures for 2006 suggest one in 10 under-16s has smoked cannabis. | |
| The call follows the sentencing of mother Nicola Cooper earlier this week for giving cannabis to her children to stop them buying it from street dealers. | |
| Some kids are taking the equivalent in cannabis terms of what would be a bottle of vodka a day Professor Robin Murray, Institute of Psychiatry | Some kids are taking the equivalent in cannabis terms of what would be a bottle of vodka a day Professor Robin Murray, Institute of Psychiatry |
| Assistant Chief Constable Simon Brun of the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) said it was irresponsible parenting to introduce drugs to children. | Assistant Chief Constable Simon Brun of the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) said it was irresponsible parenting to introduce drugs to children. |
| "It's about zero tolerance," he told BBC Breakfast News. | "It's about zero tolerance," he told BBC Breakfast News. |
| "It's not cool to smoke drugs. You are not being a good parent by introducing drugs in any sort of way to children's experience to help them grow up. | "It's not cool to smoke drugs. You are not being a good parent by introducing drugs in any sort of way to children's experience to help them grow up. |
| "It's harmful, there's no place for it so stamp it out." | "It's harmful, there's no place for it so stamp it out." |
| Glen Smyth, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said parents who may have smoked cannabis recreationally in their university days are misguided about the health dangers. | Glen Smyth, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said parents who may have smoked cannabis recreationally in their university days are misguided about the health dangers. |
| It is thought cannabis can now be three times as strong as it was 20 or 30 years ago. | It is thought cannabis can now be three times as strong as it was 20 or 30 years ago. |
| "We need to get rid of the idea that cannabis is really OK," said Mr Smyth. | "We need to get rid of the idea that cannabis is really OK," said Mr Smyth. |
| "What is largely unseen are our psychiatric hospitals full of people whose illnesses have been triggered by cannabis." | |
| He said it was important to get the message across to children at junior school age of the downsides of the drug. | He said it was important to get the message across to children at junior school age of the downsides of the drug. |
| Stay calm | |
| The police have the support of some health professionals who fear the potency of different types of cannabis, including skunk, is misunderstood. | |
| Professor Robin Murray, of the Institute of Psychiatry, said parents needed to think of cannabis in the same way as they would about alcohol. | |
| "Some liberal parents have been quite pleased when their 15-year-olds tells them they are taking cannabis. They say 'oh, thank goodness' they are not drinking. | |
| I still can't believe we have lost our son all from this so-called soft recreational drug Debra Bell | I still can't believe we have lost our son all from this so-called soft recreational drug Debra Bell |
| "Some kids are taking the equivalent in cannabis terms of what would be a bottle of vodka a day." | |
| Charity Drugscope agrees that some parents are complacent, but insists there are many who are very concerned about their children using drugs. | |
| Martin Barnes, Drugscope's chief executive, advised worried parents to stay calm, seek reliable information and to talk to their children. | |
| "The important point for parents is not to overreact," he said. | |
| "Just because a child is using the drug, they might be experimenting as many young people do, doesn't meant they are going to become a long-term user or a problem user." | |
| Aggressive behaviour | |
| But Debra Bell, whose son started smoking cannabis at 14, told BBC Breakfast News that had not been her experience. | |
| Her son's behaviour became increasingly aggressive and unpredictable and eventually led to him making himself homeless. | Her son's behaviour became increasingly aggressive and unpredictable and eventually led to him making himself homeless. |
| She said the received wisdom was to apply tough love but it had been a difficult decision to make. | She said the received wisdom was to apply tough love but it had been a difficult decision to make. |
| "I still can't believe we have lost our son all from this so-called soft recreational drug," she said. | "I still can't believe we have lost our son all from this so-called soft recreational drug," she said. |