Drug Education News

Suffolk’s Evening Star reports the falling number of drug incidents the police are dealing with in Suffolk schools:

DRUG-related incidents in Suffolk’s schools have dramatically decreased over the last three years, police figures have today revealed.

An investigation by the Evening Star has revealed police were called to the county’s schools nine times in 2003 to deal with complaints about drugs compared with just three incidents in 2005 and one so far this year. [more]

Jan McDonald, Suffolk County Council’s education advisor on personal and social development, is quoted saying:

“Parents need to be more aware of the dangers of drinking and the correlation between early smoking and experimentation with illegal drugs. Alcohol, the cause of considerable anti social behaviour, crime and health problems is an illegal drug for school age young people and all schools now have to develop smoking free schools for all including staff.”

The risk (and protective) factors for young people and drugs are well established and as Ms McDonald says first use of drugs is a clear risk factor for children and young people.