Jacqui Dean National Party MP

22 June 2006

Shame of 10-year-olds on party pills

National Party MP Jacqui Dean says reports today of kids as young as 10 getting adults to buy them party pills should put fresh urgency into the push to toughen up the rules around the legal highs.

"These aren't teenagers, they're primary school kids. If they're being introduced to pills at 10 where will they be at 18 or 20? This is a ticking time bomb for our youth."

Mrs Dean has been spearheading a campaign to clamp down on the sale of party pills. Her Members' Bill is currently being considered by the health select committee.

"Jim Anderton's waffled on for months about being strong on party pills. So Mr Anderton, what do you think of clever 10-year-olds who are finding a way around the current laws?"

Mrs Dean says our community leaders and our Parliament need to send the strongest possible signal about the supply of party pills to young kids.

"Even regular users say they struggle with an appalling 'come down' after taking party pills. Some say the nasty after-effects last for days," says Mrs Dean.

"How would this affect the emotional, educational and mental development of a pre-teen? Let's get serious about this issue before we put the health of more enterprising kids at risk."

ENDS

© Scoop Media