Campaign highlights danger of drugs

A campaign focusing on the dangers of drugs targeted at young people has been launched by the Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland.

The campaign, which is targeted at 14-17 year olds particularly, was unveiled at the Health Promotion Agency's (HPA) headquarters in Belfast, Tuesday February 12.

Research published by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency last month shows that over one in four school children have been offered drugs and for most of these young people they were first offered drugs at 14 years of age.

This research, the HPA said, highlights the need for an ongoing programme of public information to make young people aware of the dangers of drugs.

The HPA campaign includes a series of television advertisements, which will be screened from Tuesday and is supported by the information booklet, ‘Your body, your life, your choice’, which will be distributed to post-primary schools for all fourth, fifth and sixth form pupils over the next two weeks.

Rob Phipps, Senior Health Promotion Manager for the Agency, said: “It is important that young people have accurate information about drugs and that they get this information at the right time, in other words, sooner rather than later. While the booklet covers a wide range of drugs, the television advertising focuses on three - Ecstasy, LSD and Speed. All drugs are dangerous but these ones are especially risky and research shows they are particularly popular drugs with the 14-17 year age group.”

The Northern Ireland Drug and Alcohol Strategy Coordinator, Jo Daykin, has welcomed the campaign.

Speaking on Tuesday Ms Daykin said: "I welcome the screening of these advertisements, the fact that many young people are using drugs as part of their social and recreational lifestyle does not make this a safe or acceptable practice.

"It is only by collectively working to take the ‘cool’ factor out of drug taking do we have any hope of safeguarding the lives and health of our young people."

(AMcE)