Opinion
Children as young as nine are among hundreds of people under 16 being treated by specialist clinics for alcoholics and drug addicts in greater Auckland.
The number of children being treated by the region's Community Alcohol and Drug Services increased by nearly 20 per cent to 382 last year.
About half were treated for alcohol and the rest for cannabis and other drugs. A further 71 were treated at Waitemata District Health Board emergency departments for intoxication.
Is alcohol addiction a growing problem for NZ teens?
