AMERICA/COLOMBIA - Children consume marijuana already at seven years of age

Thursday, 29 September 2016

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Medellin (Agenzia Fides) - The consumption of drugs and drug dependancy are a fairly common phenomenon among the children of Medellin. 7-year-olds mainly consume marijuana in the department of Antioquia. What further aggravates the problem is the lack of education of parents and adults who are not able to identify the dependency regarding their children. In a statement released by ESE Hospital Carism, Mental Health Care and Integral Rehabilitation Center of Antioquia, states that "the family does not have the tools to be able to identify this type of risk". Recently there has been an increase of hospitalizations of children under 15 years of age who primarily consume marijuana. "From one or two we have reached 35, an alarming figure", the statement said. According to data by ESE Hospital Carisma, cocaine is the main drug consumption in Antioquia, followed by marijuana, basuco and opiates.
The Center has offered a service against drug dependence since 1973 and is currently engaged in a pilot project for the preparation of experts who can intervene with educational strategies, promotion and prevention, and rehabilitation of children. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 29/09/2016)