28 Aug 2012

Schools urged to keep pupils with drugs

11:28 am on 28 August 2012

The New Zealand Drug Foundation is urging schools not to be too quick to suspend or expel students caught with drugs.

A new long-term study of more than one thousand people in Dunedin has revealed persistent use of cannabis by adolescence can cause an IQ decline later in life.

Executive director Ross Bell said research shows more and more people between the ages of 12 and 13 are turning to drugs, which could affect their intelligence, memory and attention span later in life.

He said keeping young people engaged in education is a key factor to prevent them from becoming persistent drug-users.

Mr Bell said some schools too readily opt to suspend or expel students caught with drugs, and more support needs to be offered to keep troubled youth in school.