DRUG USE - A WORLD PANDEMIC
An estimated 200 million people, or 5% of the global population aged between 15-64yrs have used illicit drugs at least once in the past year. Britain and Ireland have the highest number of drug and alcohol users in Europe. Cannabis is still the most
widely used drug worldwide and in Italy 10% of the population smoke cannabis on a regular daily basis. There is a well organised and well financed movement worldwide to legalise this very dangerous and addictive drug. The main financier behind this movement is US based but Hungarian born George Soros.
Article 33 of the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of Children clearly states that we must protect all children from the use of and involvement with Narcotic Drugs. The United Nations Conventions which are signed by approximately 200 Nations are quite clear in relation to narcotics.
The question is how can we protect our children from the use of and involvement with narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and doping agents??
REDUCE DEMAND
In 1989 a group of concerned European citizens (including myself) formed an independent voluntary NGO whose goal is to reduce the demand for drugs in Europe. We were the first voluntary organisation to address DEMAND REDUCTION and the first international independent NGO of this kind.
Since then EURAD has grown in strength and numbers and although we still have little or no money our affiliates are drawn from Africa, Iran, Australia, New Zealand, the US and South America as well of course within Europe. Ours is a network of committed people who advise, lobby and support each other to attain best practice in Prevention, Support and Treatment.
The thinking behind our group was that customs borders in Europe were to be dismantled in line with new European policies and the forming of the EU. Therefore drugs would be easier to smuggle and use would escalate.
We also recognised that there were two policies being promoted on fighting the drugs culture. The first was the War on Drugs. E.g. Policing, Customs, Crop Eradication and of course prison. This clearly was failing as drug use continued to rise.
The second proposal was to Legalise/Decriminalise. This in our opinion was doomed to failure. We only had to look at the global pandemic in alcohol use in countries where alcohol is legal. Therefore socially acceptable and easily available.
PREVENTION
The primary goal is to prevent individuals from using drugs but failing that to ensure early discovery and intervention. This approach must also include support to the family and social reintegration coupled with job training. Drug addiction.is a chemical straightjacket. It requires a holistic approach.. Right through from early prevention to intervention and ending with the tertiary stage of care and treatment which should aim for a drug free outcome.
Where poverty exists drugs will prosper this should never be ignored.
PARENTS ARE THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENCE A CHILD HAS TO PREVENT A DRUGS CARREER.
SCHOOLS PLAY A VITAL ROLE AND CHILDREN ARE ENTITLED TO A SAFE PASSAGE WHILE IN SCHOOL. SCHOOLS MUST BE FREE OF DRUG USE AND DEALING
STRONG AND JUST LAWS ARE THE LAST LINE OF PROTECTION IN THIS PANDEMIC
The drug abuse career can be described as a downhill race. After the so called recreational use the drug abuser has a period where he/she experiences euphoric and well-being effects of the drug. He/She thinks drug taking is wonderful, feels accepted by his/her peer group and sees no damage looking on herself/himself as a moderate or recreational user. How often through the years have I been told by clients that I can handle it. I can give it up anytime.
ADDICTION
Addiction of course is a strong compulsion to repeat the effects of a drug. So this means that the user will have great difficulty in kicking the habit on his/her own. He/she might realise what is happening, but unable to curb the drug-slope.
Later, in the career, the negative effects dominate. S/he see no fun or excitement in taking drugs. They are merely doing it to keep the pain away.
Motivation usually occurs after many years of abuse (if the addict is still alive) and when the negative effects far outrule the positive ones. They say that the abuser or addict must hit rock bottom before being ready for treatment.
EURAD believes that this is inhumane.
This is what makes it essential to recognise the early sign of drug use and why it is so important that parents are educated to do this. They as I have already pointed out are the first line of defence in a young persons life.
School provides the ideal environment for parents and students to be educated on drugs and how to avoid the use. It is best if this is done as a team.
What Do We Mean By PREVENTION??
Are we talking about keeping kids drug free or are we talking about reducing the harm caused by illegal drugs??
We need to be very clear on the message that we give to our young people. We must also respect their parents. Would a parent wish that our education be based on telling their children how to use drugs safely? Do we have such a right?
Parents are the first line of defence a young person has against the tidal wave that is engulfing them and us that is the drug epidemic.
Legal sanctions are the last line of defence.
So my advice is that we know our boundaries.
To educate children we must first educate the parents.
Parents need to be a credible source of information to their own kids. Young people pick up their drug information from the street. Its not any different to their sex education. THAT INFORMATION IS NOT EVER ACCURATE. Therefore, we as educators must know our facts so that we can impart knowledge.
I have asked my colleagues what is happening in their own countries regarding drug education in schools.
These are some of the replies
..
I have also studied your impressive report to the EDMCDDA
The thing is most countries prepare great reports and ideas but do they translate to the ground? I dont think so. For instance my own experience in Ireland is that on paper we have wonderful courses and strategies but when I see a young student in my office and ask if they had ever had education in school they respond in the negative.
I firmly believe after a lifetime as an anti-drug campaigner both in counselling and education that clear and accurate drug education in the classroom is essential. This should be matched with a separate time for parents. Attendance should be compulsory. A fairly simple example:
THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF EDUCATION
According to the World Drug Report 2002 published by the United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention, the majority of drug users have been introduced to substance misuse during their school years and often within the precincts of their schools.
We should recognise that the illicit drugs trade is a massively profitable, tax free business run by ruthless organisations. Part of the marketing strategy is the publishing of false information about the effects of drugs.
So education has to be a long term commitment aimed at giving young people the tools to resist drug taking. Short term projects have little lasting effect. The kids need to be convinced that this is in their own best interest. Not just because the teacher says so. They need to explore options to drugs. Natural highs. Good self esteem is important.
Education on health and self esteem should be started in primary school. Encourage kids to feel good about themselves. As they enter the senior cycle education on alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs should be a part of the schools curriculum.
Young people have a right to be in a safe environment during the school day. How can this be achieved considering that the UN figures show that they are first introduced to drugs in the school precincts?
School also plays an important role and must be encouraged to become part of the prevention or demand reduction team in the locality
.Drug education for pupils, parents, politicians and others in the wider community with a clear message on drug use or peddling. There must be clear consequences for both with counselling and rehabilitation readily available. The social circumstances must also be addressed. If a kid is hungry, if his parents are alcoholic or drug addicted or if he or she has been sexually abused or is being bullied in the community this will need to be put right. Just to say NO to drugs is not enough. NO must mean many things.
Where poverty exists and where policing and laws do not incorporate justice then the drugs pandemic will escalate.
In the sixties Britain introduced a liberal drug legislation with free prescription of heroin which resulted in a huge heroin epidemic there. It was this epidemic in Britain that resulted in neighbouring Ireland becoming contaminated. Just as the Netherlands is contaminating its neighbouring countries in Europe with its liberal drugs policies.
In the early eighties Sweden too introduced medically prescribed amphetamines resulting in a threefold rise in drug use within two years.
So we have learned from history that liberal drug policies have a negative effect on society. Downgrading of cannabis in Britain has resulted in a rise in young people admissions to mental hospitals for treatment. The Government there is now considering reversing this failed decision.
The schools education survey questioned 15,881 teenagers at 334 primary schools and found that 29% of 14 and 15 year old boys had tried cannabis in 2001 compared to 19% in 1999.
The proportion of 14 and 15 year old girls who had smoked cannabis had also risen from 18% in 1999 to 25% in 2001. One of the leading reasons for this sky-rocketing drug use was that the perception of harmfulness of cannabis (and of drugs in general)by youngsters is decreasing.
The introduction of drug testing in schools give students a clear signal that illegal drug use is not tolerated in society, thereby illustrating the harmfulness of drugs. Testing should be in response to a clearly recognized problem, or a declaration of commitment to prevention.
It gives young people a reason to say NO and enhance the possibility for early intervention. The knowledge that their drug use will be detected may prove stronger than the attraction of any drug.
Schools considering testing can ask for a community or public input, bringing together anyone who has interest in reducing student drug use. Student Councils, for example can and should also be involved.
It should be non-puniive. If a student is using drugs and that use can be detected through testing, the child is sustained in the educational or medical environment, getting the counselling and help he or she needs. Before implementing a drug testing programme, schools must make sure appropriate resources are in place to deal with students who are found positive.
Conduct-related infractions involving drugs and violence would still be treated as punishable offences under existing disciplinary procedures.
Testing should be applicable to all students. Together with their parents they should agree to sign a consent form to be part of this procedure. All records should be confidential. The trust between student and teacher must not be violated. All records then should be destroyed upon the childs departure from school.
Annual results of testing can be determined by either student surveys or by the number of positives recorded, and publicly reported. Future support is dependent on valid assessments of yearly results.
Evaluations done in the USA on schools that have implemented testing ddemonstrate that these programmes really do work. One such example, testing year on year showed decreases ranging from 14% to 100%. In another, almost 90% of schools a major beneficial impact from testing.
LEGAL SANCTIONS
Sweden was the first European country to overturn its liberal drug policies. Now, it is illegal to CONSUME an illicit drug there. They have the lowest figures for drug use in Europe now.
They have introduced a regime of treatment and early prevention that has put them ahead of their European neighbours in reducing drug use. Demand reduction is a priority in Sweden. America too has reduced drug use among high school kids through a programme of education, counselling and school drug testing. The figures available there show a decline in numbers using dugs in high schools.
Strong prevention methods are the way forward matched with early intervention and immediate and humane treatment. With support to the family.
NOT DRUG SUBSTITUTION, NOT LEGALISATION
NOT DECRIMINALISATION
..NOT DE FACTO DECRIMINALISATION (AS IN THE NETHERLANDS)
THE WAY FORWARD
EURADs aim is for a drug free society. We believe this is achievable although realistically sometime in the future. However, we are morally obliged to aspire to it for the future of all children.
When reducing the demand for drugs or focussing on prevention we have to address the issues around parental drug and alcohol use. Outlets known as Headshops which are a growing problem in Europe. These are outlets that sell psychedelic mushrooms known as magic mushrooms cannabis seeds to grow your own and other mind altering substances that are known as legal highs.
They attract young people as they can buy cheap substances to alter their moods and that are not illegal.
We have to educate young people early and give them alternatives to mind altering substances. If they have no outlet for their youthful energies then they will inevitably turn to negative possibilities with bleak outcomes. Our education needs to be imaginative.
Harm Reduction should be about preventing the individual from initial introduction to illicit drugs. Harm Reduction should be about best practice in education and drug treatment aimed at a drug free lifestyle with aftercare. The United Nations state that Harm Reduction should be about NOT using illegal drugs (Costa). This is important for all children.
Drugs are illegal because they are dangerous (and addictive) they are not dangerous because they are illegal.
If you would care to look at the EURAD website at http://www.eurad.net/ you will find a section that I have compiled on Prevention which includes how would I know if my child was using drugs, what can I do if I do discover drug use. It is aimed at parents and compiled from my experience of speaking to and counselling families over the years. It can be printed off.
If society ignores the importance of PREVENTION in this global pandemic then we will be judged harshly by future generations. The worlds most valuable asset
young people.
End
29th May 2007
