ADVERTS BLAMED FOR DRUG TAKING

Campaigners yesterday welcomed a report which claimed heavy
advertising of alcohol and tobacco may be encouraging people to take
illegal drugs.

The Government report warned that most people who take drugs also
drink and smoke and that tackling illegal drug-taking also means
changing attitudes to legal drugs.

"For many young people alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs inhabit one
and the same world," said the report by the Home Office Advisory
Council on the Misuse of Drugs.

It said that for certain groups "alcohol is as much a dance drug as
ecstasy or amphetamines".

The report said it was hard to prove links between one type of
psychoactive substance and another.

"But our conclusion is that if society intends to provide young people
with an environment which helps them not to take illicit drugs... or
to reduce the harms which they do, the climate of awareness and
beliefs on alcohol and tobacco must be seen as part of the context."

Paul Betts, whose daughter Leah died after taking ecstasy, said he
believed alcohol and tobacco were gateway drugs which led to illegal
drug taking.

"This report sounds absolutely right. If a young person drinks and
smokes it is likely they will go to the sort of places where illegal
drugs are sold and therefore are more likely to start taking them and
get into a habit."

"I think parents should be much more aware of this and think about
what their drinking and smoking is saying to their children."

The report also warned anti-drug campaigners against trying to stop
young people going to raves, clubs and festivals because drugs may be
available there.

"Rather than simply deplore this culture, which every succeeding
generation is tempted to do, we believe that it should be used as a
resource for drugs prevention."

Campaigners working against illegal drugs should try to replace
dealers at music venues and use the places to put out an anti-drugs
message, said the report.

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