Meth fallout hits whole family
addiction involving meth use by parents, leading to grandparents raising their grandchildren, is highest in Northland and the Far North, Bay of Plenty, Wellington, Auckland and the Manawatu/Whanganui regions,’’ Bundle said.
‘‘[But] anecdotally, the same kinds of issues are coming out of Nelson as are coming out of South Auckland, as are coming out of Northland,’’ Bundle said.
She was concerned about the bigger picture emerging about the effects of meth on children.
‘‘My concern is not enough focus is being placed on methamphetamine as a real societal problem.’’
Grandparents were struggling to deal with the difficulties that often arose when looking after children of meth users, she said.
‘‘We know anecdotally that these kids who have been exposed to methamphetamine either in utero or in the home, whether it’s [from] the smoking of it or the manufacture of it, they are experiencing things like aggressive behaviour, a lot of acting out, delayed learning, there’s a huge range of issues.’’ Bundle said some grandparents were taking on children straight from the hospital because Oranga Tamariki [the Ministry for Vulnerable Children] had stepped in ‘‘and said we’ve got to find a safe place for this child because the mum’s a meth user. ‘‘That’s extremely concerning because what we now from our membership ... those children as they get older, they don’t suddenly become well because they’re in a safe environment.’’ Cross analysis of the 2016 survey’s drugs data, published last month, showed 57 of the 397 affected grandparent families indicated that one or more of their grandchildren had assaulted them physically. Sixty three per cent of cases of drug addiction cited in the survey involved domestic violence, while 56 per cent involved neglect. ‘‘Looking to the future, I’m very concerned about how well our grandparent caregivers are going to be able to manage these children. And how society as a whole is going to be able to cope,’’ Bundle warned.
In 2016, an ESR report commissioned by the Ministry of Health referred to studies that observed neurodevelopmental impairments in children born to meth-abusing mothers at one year old and beyond, and reported poorer self-control in school-aged children born from heavy meth users.
The report said methamphetamine withdrawal symptoms in newborns may include tremors, a high-pitched cry, poor feeding patterns, and frantic sucking.
Bundle was hopeful the Ministry for Vulnerable Children, Oranga Tamariki, would help provide better support for caregivers, and for children suffering health and mental health issues because of their parents’ meth use.
Oranga Tamariki said it was working with its partners to constantly improve services that would best support affected children.
‘‘Social services and government agencies throughout the country we work with are aware there is a serious problem with the use of methamphetamine in New Zealand,’’ deputy chief executive Hoani Lambert said.
‘‘Looking at where further help is needed is a priority for us, including for children and young people cared for by family members such as grandparents, where there is no formal care arrangement.’’
Initiatives underway included a caregiver guidance and advice line, trauma training and targeted support for people caring for high needs children and young people.
Financial support for people caring for vulnerable children was also being reviewed, Lambert said.