Drug Education News

The Journal of Adolecence (paid subscription) has a report on School exclusion drug use and delinquency in adolescence. Here’s the abstract:
Fifty-one young people aged 14–15 years considered to be at a high risk to substance abuse and exhibiting antisocial behavior, primarily because they longer attended mainstream school, participated in this research by completing a [...]

Peas in a Pod:Using Normative Approaches to promote children and young people’s health and well-being
A pioneering approach from the USA offers a new way of preventing children and young people engaging in high risk behaviours: The Normative Approach. Co-founded by leading Social Norms expert Dr. Wesley Perkins, the Normative Approach works on the basis that [...]

The Sun covers a recent meeting between David Cameron, leader of the Conservative Party, and a number of young people who have had drug problems. They quote Mr Cameron as saying:
“I have seen speeches from great leaders and presidents but this is by far the most inspiring.”
and:
“It took me six times to quit [...]

The BMJ (subscription required) have a report alleging underhand tactics in relation to the European strategy on alcohol:
This month the European Commission must decide whether to adopt a strategy to deal with the adverse health consequences of alcohol. The strategy has been awaited eagerly by Europe’s public health community since it was first mooted five [...]

Patricia Hewitt, the Secretary of State for Health, has given an interview to First News in which she says:
I am asking Gordon Brown, as the Chancellor, when he comes forward with the budget next year, to really increase taxes (extra charges that go to the government) on alcohol. And particularly things like alcopops and some [...]

The Guardian look at the way that a student union in Belfast (off our patch, but of interest none the less) is trying to create a more neighbourly environment:

Gone are the days when lollipops were given to children as a reward for good behaviour; now the sweets are the secret weapon in a campaign to [...]

The Times has a story from Reading

LANDLORDS have been asked not to sell cut-price drinks to undergraduates in an effort to curb drunken behaviour.
Reading University has accused some bar staff of serving drinks to students who are “patently drunk” and called on landlords to exercise a degree of responsibility.
Tony Downes, the university’s pro vice-chancellor, [...]

The Drug Education Forum has published a briefing paper setting out the current arguments and evidence on random drug testing in schools:
There is not a single view on using random drug testing in schools. Many are against it believing that testing is not compatible with creating a supportive environment for young people’s learning. Some take [...]

The BBC on a new campaign by the government aimed at raising the awareness of risks associated with cannabis use:
A TV advertisement warning young people of the damage cannabis can do to the brain is to be screened as part of a drugs awareness campaign.
The advert, by drug helpline Frank, is set in a brain [...]

The BBC have a report on a PRU that has allowed pupils to smoke on school premises:

A city learning centre has taken a “special approach to a very serious problem” by allowing pupils to smoke between lessons, it has emerged.
Students at Tinshill Learning Centre in Leeds can smoke in an outdoor facility during breaks, [...]