Drug Abuse

Sixty-seven year old Ned Cook, who worked in the community dealing with drug abuse and addiction, died on Sunday from injuries suffered in an alleged Friday night assault.

Our correspondent in Nuku'alofa, Kalafi Moala, said Mr Cook was "one of Tonga's warriors" in the fight against drug abuse and addiction.

Mr Moala said his death was a tremendous loss for the country.

"We, here in Tonga, are very shocked by the death of Ned.

That's why a video that police say Lamel Yancey of Arkansas uploaded to Facebook is causing furor online. It shows Yancey urging a diapered, 3-year-old to smoke a joint.

The boy is Yancey's nephew, police said.

In the video, Yancey hands off the joint to the boy in the back seat of a car.

"You want to hit the blunt, man?" Yancey asks the toddler.

The boy inhales and coughs.

"Weed," he responds, while his 17-year-old uncle records him.