I have watched one of my best friends go from an outstanding stay at home mum of five kids to a full blown addict within months. I stepped in and took her kids out of her care with the help of social welfare and the promise of getting help for her through social services. That help never came and instead a few months later she was wanted in connection for meth importing. Now she is waiting for final sentencing and is looking at 13 years locked up. Even the judge said she was had a minor role and was an addict who was used by drug kingpins.
How does our society turn our back on somebody who had no record to now 13 years inside a jail? It is a sentence for her, it is a sentence for her children, it is a sentence for me and everybody who loves her. Where was the rehab? Where was the support? Where was the understanding? She was used and abused by these drug kingpins yet because they pleaded guilty straight off the bat they are facing less time than her locked up. New Zealand has failed her and have inflicted a huge cost on the tax payer. For what? In 13 years time she will be released and I highly doubt she will function in society in any manner that is productive.