Chief Minister Terry Mills says the Northern Territory Government is assessing the need for alcohol and drug rehabilitation programs on the Tiwi Islands. <\/p>\n
The Tiwi Shire Council says cannabis use is rampant in the islands' communities. <\/p>\n
One Aboriginal elder says cannabis use is contributing to a mental health crisis on the islands. <\/p>\n
Tiwi Islands leader Marius Puruntatameri says it's not uncommon to find children as young as 10 smoking cannabis in his community. <\/p>\n
He says a lot of young people wander the streets at night looking for drugs and says many have been left psychologically affected <\/p>\n
Mr Mills says he's turned his attention to rehabilitation services after hearing similar stories from communities across the Territory. <\/p>\n
Tiwi Islands Shire Council chief executive Alan Hudson estimates at least 50 per cent of teenagers on the islands are smoking cannabis and he says it's causing them to be aggressive and paranoid. <\/p>\n
\"Nine times out of ten, when we have problems on the community, the kids have started a fight,\" he said. <\/p>\n
\"We are talking about very early teenage kids ... (who) will start a fight, then the older brothers will get into it and the parents will get into it. <\/p>\n
\"Next thing, we've got families fighting. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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Tiwi Islands seek help as drug use takes hold<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Chief Minister Terry Mills says the Northern Territory Government is assessing the need for alcohol and drug rehabilitation programs on the Tiwi Islands. The Tiwi Shire Council says cannabis use is rampant in the islands' communities. Continue reading