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Drugs education 'is not working' Drugs education 'is not working'
(about 1 hour later)
Schools' drugs education programmes are having hardly any effect on reducing drug use, according to a panel which advises the government on drug policy.Schools' drugs education programmes are having hardly any effect on reducing drug use, according to a panel which advises the government on drug policy.
The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs calls for more emphasis to be placed on alerting children about the hazards of tobacco and alcohol. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) calls for more emphasis to be placed on alerting children about the hazards of tobacco and alcohol.
It also calls for new measures to deter drink driving among young people. But a radical proposal for a new lower drink-drive limit for young adults was immediately ruled out by ministers.
The government has placed drugs education at the centre of its strategy spending £70 million since 1997. The government has spent £70m on drugs education since 1997.
But having reviewed research from across the world, a committee of doctors and scientists on the Advisory Council concluded that the success of school-based schemes was "slight or non-existent" and could even be "counter-productive". But having reviewed research from across the world, a committee of doctors and scientists on the ACMD concluded that the success of school-based schemes was "slight or non-existent" and could even be "counter-productive".
InfluenceInfluence
Although children should be given drugs advice, the panel said many people took up drugs or increased usage in their late teens and early 20s, so they should also be targeted.Although children should be given drugs advice, the panel said many people took up drugs or increased usage in their late teens and early 20s, so they should also be targeted.
The 100-page report said there were wide variations in standards of drug-education programmes across the country and urged schools to provide "accurate, credible and consistent information".
The government has no plans to change the drink-drive blood alcohol limit from 80mg for young drivers or anyone else Stephen LadymanTransport minister
The report said excess drinking caused the most widespread problems and suggested cutting the alcohol limit for drivers under 25 to reduce accidents.The report said excess drinking caused the most widespread problems and suggested cutting the alcohol limit for drivers under 25 to reduce accidents.
However that suggestion has already been ruled out by ministers. This would amount to reducing the legal limit from 80 to 50 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood for motorists aged 17 to 25.
Transport minister Stephen Ladyman said were no planned changes "for young drivers or anyone else". But Transport Minister Stephen Ladyman said there were no planned changes "for young drivers or anyone else".
Other recommendations in the report included:
  • a ban on alcohol advertising on TV and at most cinemas
  • a ban on brewers sponsoring sports and music events
  • raising excise duty on alcohol to combat Britain's growing binge-drinking culture and general alcohol abuse
  • raising the legal smoking age from 16 to 18
  • forcing shopkeepers to demand proof of age and greater use of under-age test purchases
  • stopping the use of drug testing and sniffer dogs in schools
    • The ACMD said British children are some of the biggest cannabis, alcohol and tobacco users in Europe.
    Between a fifth and a quarter of 15-year-olds are regular smokers, half drink alcohol at least once a week and nearly a quarter have used illegal drugs in the past month.
    The council is an influential body and ministers acted on one of its previous recommendations by re-classifying cannabis.The council is an influential body and ministers acted on one of its previous recommendations by re-classifying cannabis.
    Alcohol abuse among young people has provoked concern
    Ministers are likely to consider the council's latest proposals carefully, says BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw.Ministers are likely to consider the council's latest proposals carefully, says BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw.
    Earlier this year, Ofsted said there was a "very mixed picture" in how schools across the country taught about drugs, alcohol and tobacco. In response to the report, the Tobacco Manufacturers' Association said it backed moves preventing young people accessing tobacco, but it was up to the government to decide at what age the threshold should be.
    A spokesman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said cutting the drink-drive limit to 50mg for all age groups would save 65 lives and 230 serious injuries a year on British roads.
    But the RAC Foundation said it would make little difference and urged motorists not to drink any alcohol before getting behind the wheel.