'JUST SAY NO' DRUG CAMPAIGN NOT GETTING THROUGH

The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre says the "Just Say No to
Drugs" campaign is failing more than ever.

Federal Government figures show that a third of 12-year-old school students
have used inhalants such as glues and aerosol sprays.

Marijuana use is prevalent at schools with 11 per cent of 12-year-olds
using cannabis, a figure rising to half the population at the age of 17.

The centre's Paul Dillon says the age of initiation into drug use is
getting younger and younger.

"When you have got such high percentages of 12-year-olds having ever
experimented with these drugs, it means we are seeing experimentation in
primary schools," he said.

"We have to change our view of where we do preventative drug education
because if we are trying to do drug education at the age of 13, 14 and 15,
we have missed the boat."