Synthetic Drugs available in Waiuku

There’s been a lot of publicity about synthetic drugs in the last few months, and now, here in Waiuku we are feeling the effects of it.

Frightening enough are the stories of the effects of the drugs and the horrors of withdrawal, but to know that it has entrenched itself in our town and is destroying the lives of people in our community… is a down right horror. We have had reports of local people losing their livelihood, family break ups, violence and suicidal tendencies.

Information readily available on the internet outlines the effects of these synthetic drugs. Where, older style drugs like heroin and cocaine could cause a deterioration in your quality of life or lead to overdose, the new drugs can destroy you by triggering psychotic episodes of hallucinations, aggression, paranoia, suicidal thoughts or homicidal tendencies – some resulting in assaults, murders and suicides. The effects of synthetic drugs can be so violent that it not only takes out the drug user but those adults and children in the vicinity. Physical effects of these drugs include higher blood pressure, possible heart attack or stroke, rapid heart rate, seizures, vomiting and confusion. High users of these drugs are our youths.

Chemists change the formula slightly as soon as one product becomes illegal. Move a few molecules and you have a new product on the market. This rebranding effort is their loophole around the law. New Zealand banned Spice, a synthetic cannabis, and yet now we have K2.

Would not an all-out ban on synthetic drugs be the answer? Other countries have made these synthetic drugs illegal, so why are we selling them in New Zealand? Perhaps difficult in the short term but how can we make a moral stand in our community?

New World Waiuku, Store Owner, Lex Mills has personally seen the effects of synthetic drugs on his staff and feels compelled to do something about it. Waiuku Sergeant Simon Palmer and his staff have had reports of violence, suicidal tendencies and the breakup of family units all linked to the use of synthetic drugs.

Despite its legal status we can do something about synthetic drugs taking a foothold in our town. As a town we need to stand up and say NO… So Waiuku… what can we do about it?

How can we affect the moral issue surrounding the purchase of synthetic drugs in our community?

In the Tuesday 18th June edition of The Post Newspaper, Lex Mills took a full page requesting feedback from the community. We at Waiuku Families, would like to help his efforts by making this feedback available in an online form. Key questions for our community are:

Should we PROMOTE those retailers who REFUSE to stock it in our region?
Should we NAME the retailers who make it available to our young people and others?

To send your feedback via email simply go to the WAIUKU FAMILIES WEBSITE SURVEY and fill in the form.

– Let your opinion count –
– Help our community say NO –
– Be part of the moral solution –

Our police are checking out who is stocking it in town and Nigel Ward at The Post Newspaper is speaking with Waitemata Health – Alcohol and Drug department about sending a rep to speak to families about the effects of synthetic drugs. We will keep you in the loop with progress on this event.

www.waiukufamilies.co.nz

Tips for Building a Good Relationship with your Kids

Happy Family Hugging Each Other

If you are like most parents, you probably want to raise healthy, smart kids. You may already have some ideas on how to achieve this. Here are some parenting tips that will help parents ensure their children develop to their full potential.

One of the parenting tips that work best is giving your children quantity and quality time. When you spend time with your kids, try to engage them in meaningful conversations. Try to build fun and healthy communications and relationships while the kids are young.

In many homes, parents do not really talk to their kids when they are young. But when the kids become teens, these parents desperately want to talk to their teens. But the opportunity is not there anymore. Try not to be an average parents. According to statistics, an average parent spends less than fifteen minutes a week in serious discussion with their children and start when they’re young.

Practice and develop good habits. It is important that you push your kids to exercise their faith or beliefs and put into action the lessons that they have received. For example, it is one thing to learn about charity and caring, but it is another thing to volunteer some time to visit nursing homes and serve the elderly.

Aristotle, the famous Greek philosopher, said that virtues are acquired by the development of habits. At first it may feel like a duty to maintain good habits but it will become easier as time goes by, and soon they will exercise good habits effortlessly.

Involved Parents at a soccer game

Be a good role model. It is hard trying to teach children something when we do not do it ourselves. When they hear you lying about something, what kind of message are you sending to your children? Because action speaks louder than words, your kids will probably imitate our good and bad habits more than listening to our words.

Be involved parents. Involved parents are parents who monitor their kids’ media consumption, know whether the teachings in school are in line with their values and are acquainted with their friends. You should have a good rapport with your kids. Nobody is perfect but the more you become involved in your children’s lives, the better your chances of raising them to be good citizens.

Have a strong and healthy relationship. Having a strong and healthy marriage or relationship is not only good for you but also for your children. A thriving family unit is a good deterrent for anti-social behavior.

mom-talking-teen

One thing for sure: it is hard enough to raise a child with two parents, let alone a single parent. Research shows that two years after a divorce, many boys have trouble concentrating, do poorly on intelligence tests, and have difficulty with math. Should your relationship break down, where possible try to ensure that your children continue to have full support from both parents.

Get connected with other parents. We need support and encouragement from other parents and you’ll no doubt learn new parenting tips from them. It is good to know that you are not the only ones who may be struggling. You can encourage one another to hang in there and continue to do the right thing. We have a large selection of activities for kids in Waiuku. Take a look at our website for information on what you can do with PreSchoolers and Youths.

http://www.waiukufamilies.co.nz
admin@waiukufamilies.co.nz

Consider Foster Care

Foster care is an amazing thing to be a part of. If you are looking for a way to help someone and you have a love for children then you might want to consider foster care.

The benefits and blessings of foster care far outweigh the sacrifices. Be sure, however, that you are well aware of the sacrifices that investing in foster care will mean for you and your family. It will require time, money, energy, love, and commitment. And don’t be fooled – foster care (as with becoming a parent for the first time) will likely require much more than you could even calculate now.

A local Waiuku Foster Carer (who can not be named) says

“when a child receives love from someone that has never known them, they can begin to feel that it is okay to love again and that not everyone is out to get them.
The feelings of being wanted, for some children, can be the hardest thing to find. They may have been repeatedly rejected and hurt by their biological families, and may never be able to express their feelings appropriately. But by caring for a young child, it is less likely to be a problem for them later on… if only they experienced the love of someone who chose to care for them.”

Allow yourself to think about all of the great things that come from foster care. First and foremost, think about the lives of the children that are in need of loving and solid homes to spend time in. Can you imagine being a child without a safe place to call home? There is perhaps nothing greater than giving up part of your home and your energy to help a child or children who are in need. What a blessing for a child to be in foster care and placed in a home filled with fun and encouragement.

Carers have a diverse range of experience and background but one thing they all have in common is a passion for providing a safe and loving home for the children and young people who need them.

You could make a great foster or adoptive parent if you:
• Can commit wholeheartedly to caring for a child who needs you
• Have a stable home life
• Are willing to accept the child and help them develop their potential
• Can persevere and be patient
• Can work with the child’s family

Participating in foster care can also be a huge blessing to you and your family. Taking in a child or children in need can fill your life with a great sense of purpose and love like you may have never experienced. What a special thing to make your life bigger than yourself by caring for a child. You and your family can learn and grow closer together because of foster care. While it is never easy to include someone new in your family, foster care can be a great way to strengthen relationships and learn to appreciate the blessings you have been given.

For couples who have ever considered adopting a child or children into their family, foster care can be a great trial run to see how your family will adjust the addition of a new member in a less permanent way. Consider trying foster care for a few months or a year as you try to decide about adoption. One of the hardest but best things about foster care is that it does not require a long term commitment. Many foster care parents enjoy it so much that they take in child after child into their family.

In New Zealand there are four types of foster care:
Foster care: generally, is for a period of time with the goal that the child will return to their own family.
Emergency care: a child may come to you for a few days or a longer period, depending on the family circumstances.
Respite care: is looking after a child for short periods as a support for their main carers.
Home for life: is when a child is not able to return home and you become their lifelong carers, as part of your family.

If you are interested in determining if you and your family would do well at foster care, take some time to research the options in your area. Explore the possibilities and see if foster care might be the perfect way to reach out to your community, help a needy child, and strengthen your own family all at once.

Want to know more? Contact Child, Youth and Family at 0508 CARERS (0508 227 377) or www.cyf.govt.nz

An average day at Child, Youth and Family will include:
• Around 300 calls from people concerned about the safety of a child
• Support extended family and foster carers to look after around 4000 children and young people in care
• Hold around 60 family group conferences, where families meet to find ways to keep their children safe and well cared for, or help young people deal with their offending
• Be in touch with more than 100 families to make a positive difference for their children
• Be responsible for around 100 young people in youth justice residences.

http://www.waiukufamilies.co.nz
admin@waiukufamilies.co.nz