SOME parents are ignoring their children's abuse of the potentially deadly drug 'ice' because they mistakenly think it has a good effect on them, a leading social worker said.
Rosanna So Kam-hing of the Society for the Aid and Rehabilitation of Drug Abusers said she knew of parents who did not understand that the drug, which can cause brain damage, was harmful.
'They see their teenagers are sleeping a lot after taking it so they mistakenly think the drug is good because at least it keeps their children off the streets and from possibly turning to crime,' Ms So said.
'They also see children have a lot of energy after taking it and can get on with the housework. It is not until later, when the teenager becomes increasingly addicted, that parents realise its effects are devastating; the child can get out of control and start hallucinating, but by then it may be too late.' Ms So, who is also the deputy superintendent of the social services department of the Society for the Aid and Rehabilitation of Drug Abusers, said it was vital that social workers tried to educate parents about the harmful effects of 'ice'.
She said she knew of at least four cases where parents had complied with their children's drug-taking habit, but she stressed they were unusual.
Parents who were unaware of the drug's possibly devastating effects on their children could come from all walks of life, including well-educated business people, she said.
