The only comment I have is that to call the families concerned "troubled" is misleading. It's the families around them who have to tolerate their misbehaviour who are troubled.
Ray Mallon is well regarded by some for introducing zero tolerance into England when he had a senior position in the police force. Now is the time for him to get tough on parents who allow such young children to dabble in drugs.
Yes because 'getting tough' really works with drug addicts doesn't it?
Seriously - you must know that is absolutely pointless - unless you're not interested in change just punishment to make you feel better about things.
And is this the same Ray Mallon forced to resign after pleading guilty to 14 charges of misconduct?
'He admitted that he repeatedly "lied, deliberately withheld evidence from senior officers, and turned a blind eye to detectives who took and dealt hard drugs,'
it's the parents, and they are not alone.. one thing about drink and drugs if you have family, children, is how it affects them, for reasons unknown, many adults who have no problem with taking drugs, or drink, never think what it might do to their children, if they see them taking either, or the consequences after... how some can feed them to their child is beyond understanding, or taking drugs whilst expecting...
It may horrify some, so much so that they will accuse me of being a Nazi etc., etc., but let's face it one cannot 'educate' this sort of person, and the only way is to go to the extremes and sterilise these persons so that they are unable to bring any more unfortunate children into the world.
And before anyone condemns my suggestion, and has a better idea that is guaranteed to put an end to this problem, please tell me.
there is no definite answer because it's a very complex problem, put it this way, if someone you know has mental health problems, would you advocate sterilising her because she may not be able to take care of a child, if you say yes i would be surprised, this is no different.