WARNING OVER SOLVENT ABUSE

STUDENTS are skipping lessons to go glue sniffing, and when they do
turn up for class they are often "the worse for wear" according to a
leading teachers union.

Tom McKee, regional official for the NASUWT, said youngsters as young
as 15 meet regularly in gangs for glue sniffing and drug abuse.

"This is a big problem across Northern Ireland in both rural and urban
communities," he said.

"Young people skipping school during the day and the same gang meeting
at night to sniff glue or take drugs."

Pip Jaffa from the Parents Advice Centre said: "If children are
skipping school, the parents and teachers should get together with the
student to discuss the problem and parents should use all the
sensitivity and tact that they can."

A spokesperson for Contact Youth, a counselling and information
service, urged any young people who feel they have a problem with
drugs or glue sniffing to seek help.

- -Contact Youth's free helpline can be contacted on (0808) 8088000. The
Parents Advice Centre can be contacted on (028) 90238800.