CHILDREN ASKED TO PHONE GARDAI IF OFFERED DRUGS

Schoolchildren are to be asked to telephone the gardai if they are
offered drugs, under a project planned for primary schools later this
year. The project, to be called "Say No and Phone", is being developed
by the INTO, the Gardai and the Chambers of Commerce.

The Crimestoppers freephone number is expected to be used on posters
encouraging children to refuse drugs and give the pushers' names to
gardai.

In a separate development children at primary schools in areas most
affected by the drug problem are to be given drug education classes
from next month.

Announcing the "Walk Tall" programme yesterday, the Minister for
Education, Mr Martin, said research had shown that awareness and
self-esteem were important factors in helping children avoid substance
abuse.

A spokeswoman for the INTO welcomed the programme.

A senior psychologist with the Department of Education, Ms Ruby
Morrow, said the scheme was graded to deal with children from infants
to sixth class. The emphasis with younger children was on safety.
Cigarettes were discussed when children reached the age of around
eight and illegal drugs discussed as teachers considered appropriate.
She said it would be up to the teachers to decide when children were
most at risk.

The IEP1 million programme aimed at schools in the 13 drug task-force
areas, 12 in Dublin and one in Cork, is to start on February 8th. The
programme was pilot tested on 150 schools in the last two years and
recommended by teaching experts.

The initiative follows two studies which show Irish teenagers among
Europe's heaviest substance abusers. The 1997 European School Survey
Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs showed that Irish teenagers had the
highest levels of binge-drinking among 26 European countries. Ireland
had the second highest rate of cannabis use and cigarette smoking
among 16-year-olds.

The latest report by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug
Addiction showed that Ireland had the youngest age profile for drug
users seeking treatment, indicating that Irish drug users start at an
earlier age.