Disturbing footage: No illegal drugs used, say police

Shocking footage has emerged of a group of young boys in South Auckland purportedly smoking drugs using homemade bongs. Photo / Supplied

Police investigated disturbing footage of young boys in South Auckland boasting of smoking drugs using homemade bongs and of growing marijuana in pot plants and found no illegal drugs were used.

The footage posted, to social media earlier this month, shows four young boys who appear to be primary or intermediate school-aged, sitting next to a creek bragging about taking drugs and growing their own weed.

Three homemade bongs can be seen in the video while two of the boys film themselves "smoking weed" and "getting stoney baloney".

One boy claims to be the owner of the paraphernalia while the others argue over who owns the drugs.

In the video, one boy lights up and is seen exhaling a substance from the homemade bong.

In the video, one boy lights up and is seen exhaling a substance from the homemade bong. Photo / Supplied

At least two boys appear to be wearing school uniform during the incident while the others have school bags with them.

One boy is heard encouraging the others to "go again" before making fun of them for not being able to properly light up their drugs.

Facing the camera, one boy admits to "smoking weed" while the others ask for help to light up.

Shocking footage has emerged of a group of young boys in South Auckland purportedly smoking drugs using homemade bongs. Photo / Supplied

The video posted to social media on the weekend and has been viewed more than 219,000 times.

One of the boys allegedly from the group has since posted the video to their Facebook page claiming "I'm fkn famous" after it blew up on Sunday.

In a statement to the Herald, police initially said the incident was concerning and they were attempting to identify those in the video to provide support.

Since then Counties Manukau Police Chris Barry said police had identified and contacted the boys who made the video.

"We have since confirmed that the video is approximately four years old, and that no illegal substances were used and no criminal offending took place.

"We will assess whether further intervention is required, however we do not believe further action is necessary in this instance."

ADOLESCENT DRUG ISSUES AND NEW ZEALAND'S WIDER DRUG PROBLEM

Every year thousands of teenagers and adolescents are treated for drug or alcohol addiction, according to figures released under the Official Information Act.

In 2015 more than 2000 children and teens under 18 were seen by alcohol and drug treatment services around the country.

Some DHBs revealed they've seen patients as young as five that have been treated for alcohol or drug addiction in the past five years, while thousands of patients under the age of 15 have been treated for addiction.

In the most recent State of the National report released by the Salvation Army they highlight the "unrelenting rise" of methamphetamine as one of New Zealand's biggest issues.

"As a country this is becoming, possibly, a plague - certainly in some communities," said the report's author and policy analyst Alan Johnson.

"And we need to redouble our efforts to address both the people making and selling the stuff and the people growing addicted to it.

"We've said that before, but it just seems to be something that gets worse year-on-year."

Methamphetamine-related offences made up 45 per cent of all drug convictions in the last year, compared to 18 per cent 10 years ago.

That was partly because police had shifted their focus away from cannabis to meth.