BETTS URGES CONCERTED EFFORT ON DRUGS

The father of ecstasy victim Leah Betts warned yesterday that
hard-pressed teachers should not have to bear sole responsibility for
drugs education in schools.

Speaking on what would have been his daughter's 22nd birthday, Mr Paul
Betts welcomed the Scottish Executive's plan, announced yesterday, to
issue draft guidelines for teachers on how to handle drugs incidents
in schools.

He said: "Teachers are overburdened now and will need a lot of help, a
lot of guidance, and a lot of support. It is another tool in an
already very heavy handbag. What I do hope is that they will not
expect teachers to take over the complete training of drug education
and thereby prevent other people from going in and passing on their
experience."

His comments found support among teachers. Mr Ronnie Smith, general
secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland, said: "Schools do
have a role in this. Inevitably you can place the primary
responsibility wholly or mainly on schools, which I think would be
misguided. I think it has to be broader than that and I think that
those with knowledge and expertise must have a role."

Mr Betts, who now lives in Scotland, was in Edinburgh to give a series
of sponsored talks to pupils in the city and West Lothian as part of a
drug awareness programme co-ordinated by Lothian and Borders Police
and sponsored by Ethicon, one of the UK's leading suppliers of
surgical products.

On his visit in March, Mr Betts spoke to around 2000 pupils at schools
across west Edinburgh. His latest tour involves visits to seven
secondary schools.

Speaking about the anniversary, he said: "This is clearly a very
painful time for us and launching this latest initiative on the day
Leah died, also her birthday, only accentuates the pain. However, it
reflects our determination to do all we can to make children aware of
the dangers that drugs pose."

Scottish Education Minister Sam Galbraith, referring to the new
guidelines, said: "Parents can now be reassured that there will be
adequate safeguards in place for teachers to deal effectively with
incidents. Drawing up guidelines to apply throughout the country will
mean a consistent approach in every Scottish school which ensures the
safety and welfare of every child."