Global Youth Network - Children Used in Drug Trade

Children Used in Drug Trade in New Zealand and the Philippines

	In New Zealand, drug syndicates are using children as young as 13 to buy raw materials for making methamphetamine (speed).
	Children are organized to make numerous small purchases of cold and flu medicine that contain pseudoephedrine, one of the key ingredients in speed.
	Some Wellington (NZ) pharmacies are now asking for photo IDs for buyers of these products and are refusing to sell if they suspect the medicine will be used illegally.
	In the Philippines, many of the children (over 90%) are themselves users (methamphetamine, glue and cannabis, in that order). The majority began working in the drug trade at age 14-16; more than ????? of those in the drug trade began using between the ages of 11-16.

Lepiten, Magdalena. New Zealand Herald, 18 June 2002.
"Children's involvement in the production, sale, and trafficking of drugs in Cebu City, Phillippines", International Labour Organization.

Malaysia

Young partyers in Malaysia using ketamine (a veterinary anaesthetic):

	Police reported a 700% increase in the amount of the drug seized between 2000 and 2001.
	Students and young adults report that ketamine and ecstasy are easy to produce in mobile labs.

Singapore Strait Times, 18 June 2002.

United States

A recent study on US teens and role models found the following:

	Teens with a role model fared better in school and had greater self-esteem than those that didn't have any role model. 2000 and 2001.
	Lower income teens were more likely to pick a role model from the media than someone they knew.
	Role models actually known by the teen had greater effect on self-esteem and grades.
	The combination of no role model and no father at home was associated with the highest rate of drug use.

Yancy, AK, et al. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Vol 156: 55-61, 2002.

Gary Roberts, Senior Associate
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse
Phone: 613-235-4048-225 // 613-829-3152 (home)
Fax: 613-235-8101/613-829-3307 (home)

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