N.Z. drug education film makes debut

Press, 14 April 1980, Page 14

N.Z. drug education film makes debut

PA Wellington New Zealand’s own drug education film has made its debut in Wellington — and the sponsors are already talking about its .demise. The Napier and Hastings Round Table chapters spent two years and $27,000 making the film, because members felt existing imported films were outdated and irrelevant to-New Zealanders. “We don’t want the film to last more than three to four years — after that it will have to be s replaced with something more modern,” said a sponsor, Mr Russell Ayre, at the preview in the Beehive

theatrette. The 16mm colour film, called “But I’m Not Addicted,” is aimed at adults and family .groups. It is not recommended for use

in schools. It features interviews with former drug addicts

i and New Zealand drug experts such as Dr Fraser MacDonald of Carrington - Hospital, Mr Roy Johnl- ston'* of the National Society on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, and Mrs Mildred Coursey, who > runs the Kahuni Village I Trust. , Policemen tell parents how to recognise drug? taking symptoms in their children. There are closepup shots of all the types of i drugs, and the equipment used for taking them. 1 Sandwiched between are “light relief” film clips of healthy young people laughing and playing, to the accompaniment of joy?

ful music. Notable for their absence are the stomach-: churning, scare-tactic scenes that have been criticised in other drug-educa-:

.tion films. j “The film is a message. That’s the important

thing,” Mr Ayre said. It encouraged parents to spend time with their children and communicate with them.

Outlines for the script of the film were put together by local colleges, doctors, church groups, education authorities, the police, and drug experts. The film was finally scripted and made by a professional group jn Auckland. The Round Tables chapters raised all the money to make the film, and will sell copies to interested groups,at cost.