SCHOOLS REJECT SCARE APPROACH ON DRUGS

The Government has been urged to support an awareness programme for
primary schools which has replaced the "simplistic and
counter-productive" approach of instilling fear in children about drugs.

Aimed at sixth-class students, the pilot project in the Finglas and
Cabra suburbs of west Dublin, known as Awareness FC, found that
children responded well to a broad-based programme on drugs awareness.

Classes were split into two groups of between 13 and 17 participants,
each of which was taught by two tutors from Finglas Youth Service. The
use of small groups with two tutors greatly assisted the programme,
according to an evaluation report issued yesterday.

The report, "Awareness FC (Finglas/Cabra) Drugs Prevention Programme: An
Evaluation" was launched yesterday by the Minister for State Mr Chris
Flood, who has special responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy.

The report, by Dr Mark Morgan of St Patrick's College, Drumcondra,
claimed that the old "drugs are bad" method of "instilling fear" in
school children has been found to be ineffective.

It found that the work carried out by the tutors in small, informal
groups with the children was effective in several ways. This emerged
in "before and after" tests on knowledge about drugs, and awareness of
drug-related illnesses such as HIV and AIDS.

Dr Morgan concluded: "Successful programmes have not resorted to
exaggeration of consequences of drug use but have given accurate and
age-appropriate information.

"This feature of the present work emerged in the evaluations,
particularly of student knowledge and attitudes where it became
apparent that the children acquired a more informed and balanced
attitude to drugs." It added: "Simple answers to drug problems are not
appropriate. There is now a consensus that there is a need for a
broadlybased strategy that includes reducing supply as well as
prevention programmes. "There is also evidence that simplistic school
programmes that emphasise just `saying no' or that try to scare
children away from drugs are most likely to be counter-productive.
There is, however, a good deal of evidence on the kind of programmes
that are most likely to be successful."

Dr Morgan suggested that the Garda should examine the methods used by
the Awareness FC tutors in respect of Garda schools programmes.

He also recommended that a plan be formulated in consultation with the
Department of Education to see how the programme could be developed.

He said: "This programme should be continued in its present form but
with developments to enhance its effectiveness. This project is worthy
of the fullest possible support in terms of resources both human and
financial." Father Jim Caffrey, director of the Catholic Youth
Council, said the Awareness FC programme was "good news" in an area
which had suffered from drug problems. He said funding for the
programme ran out in January and he hoped the funding would continue.