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Friday Sep 15, 2006
Just say it's young people's fault
The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, the "independant (sic) expert body that advises Government on drug related issues in the UK" published Pathways To Problems, (pdf file) this week, arguing that:
The Government should do more to ensure that young people are aware of the real hazards of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs, using a variety of routes including the media, the school system and higher education.
Other recommendations were for the drink-drive limit for young drivers to be reduced and for the legal age at which cigarettes can be bought to be increased from 16 to 18.
The Government has shown little willingness to accept the recommendations. Proper drugs education (i.e. something more enlightened than "Just Say No") is a political minefield unlikely to be approached, while a differential drink-drive limit just seems confusing.
On TheSite.org, discussion board users have been sharing their own experiences of the inadequacies of drugs education and complaining about the Advisory Council report's tone.
"...what I hate about virtually all the measures to cut under age drinking and drug use, [is that] they are largely just about criminalising the under 18's." (Buddha)
Posted by Tom Green ( 9:55 AM ) Link to this post Comments[0]