Toddlers on drugs in Te Puke

Photo / Bay of Plenty Times

Children as young as 4 are smoking pot while mothers use drugs to calm their grizzling babies.

The revelation comes after police raids in Te Puke, Western Bay of Plenty, where several people suspected of dealing drugs to schoolchildren were arrested.

Isobel Whelan, of Bay of Plenty District Health Board-funded Poupoua Charitable Trust, said the drug culture in some Te Puke families spanned generations and included toddlers.

"Let's face it, there are 4-year-olds who are users out there. I would suspect there are younger children as well," she said.

Whelan was also aware of mothers "medicating" teething babies with cannabis to stop them grizzling.

Whelan has been involved in helping people with drugs and alcohol for 28 years.

"Te Puke, unfortunately, has a problem and I don't think we are handling it the way we should," she said.

Whelan described the community and its social services as "fractured".

"I don't think the network of agencies in the community is solid enough to work together with police, social services. It's not cohesive. The agencies are missing the ball."

Nga Kakano Foundation drug and alcohol counsellor Rapine Paura, also based in Te Puke and funded by the DHB, said he had seen a major rise in the number of young people, including 12 and 13-year-olds, involved in drugs over the past year alone.

There had also been a rise in youth needing help.

"We are coping at the moment but if it increases any more it may warrant more staff."