Drug scare tactics seen as not helpful

Press, 25 May 1989, Page 22

Drug scare tactics seen as not helpful

PA Wellington Scaring children with frightening anti-drug propaganda is not the way to stop them becoming drug abusers, according to a national seminar on drug education. A co-ordinated, national approach to drug education, and more information about what education groups could offer schools, was needed for good drug education. A Health Department

advisory officer, Mr Lloyd Millar, said there were so manf drugs programmes available for schools that it was confusing rather than helpful. To help the situation the department would create a guide for new school boards by the end of the year, he said. Its drugs advisory committee would approach the Minister of Health, Ms Clark, and the Minister of Education, Mr Lange, about setting up a national

body to co-ordinate drug education. The seminar, which involved about 25 drug education organisations, agreed that drug education should be part of a school’s health syllabus. It needed community involvement and the Maori perspective, and drug education should be written into school’s new charters. The community’s example to children was important, Mr Millar said.