DRUGS FIGHT TO TACKLE PARENTAL IGNORANCE

Charities say that primary school age children know more than most adults

SENIOR drugs workers have called for Scottish parents to be educated about
drugs at the same time as their children so they can better understand the
problem.

Levels of knowledge about drugs are low among Scottish parents, with
children in primary schools more aware of the names and prices of drugs, and
where to get them, than their mothers and fathers.

Parents are ashamed of the gap in their knowledge, and 96 per cent feel
unqualified to talk to their youngsters about drugs, according to the
charity Fast Forward.

But research by the Health Education Board for Scotland has revealed
children want to talk to their mothers and fathers about drugs are secretly
pleased their parents do not condone drug-taking.

"One of the things we are looking at is whether you could run parents'
education classes in parallel to those being run in schools for pupils,"
said Dave Liddell, the director of the Scottish Drugs Forum.

"Maybe they should be given similar information at similar times to their
children, so they can discuss things. But the logistics are difficult, and
the climate of frenzy and hysteria about drugs makes young people less
likely to talk to their parents about drugs than ever."

Parents were more likely to be frightened by media scare stories about the
dangers of drug-taking, added Mr Liddell, widening the gap between them and
their children.

Fast Forward has started an education programme called Wise Up On Drugs,
which seeks to inform parents about drugs by holding short seminars at their
place of work.

Marks & Spencer and ScottishPower are among companies whose staff have
already taken part. Surveys showed that 85 per cent felt they knew a lot or
a fair amount about drugs after the session, compared to 23 per cent before.

"The workplace is a good place to reach the parents who don't go to school
parent evenings or community-based drugs events," said Neil Robertson, Fast
Forward's training and research officer.

"Blue collar males don't generally come to that kind of event, yet they are
an important target group."

One parent told workers that he "used to shout at his children as soon as
the word ecstasy was mentioned", but after the course he had calmed down and
was prepared to have a proper discussion. Another said that in the past he
had been too scared of his ignorance to talk to his children about drugs,
but instead had left newspaper cuttings about drug deaths lying about in
their bedrooms.

"We think there should be a strategic national programme of training and
education for Scottish parents," said Simon Jaquet, the director of Fast
Forward.

"Our experience so far has shown that if it is done sensitively in
conjunction with local drug agencies and councils it can work well. Parents
are important in encouraging young people to lead healthy, positive
lifestyles."

The Health Education Board for Scotland also wants more drugs education for
parents. "Our research shows that parents are worried about their ignorance,
and feel they don't have any impact or influence on their children, so there
is no point in talking to them," said a spokesman.

"But we found that teenagers don't expect their parents to condone drug use,
and actually quite like it that they don't condone it.

"Teenagers would like to have a debate with their parents about drugs - so
parents could have a useful role to play."

Educating parents will dominate many of the activities organised as part of
European Drug Prevention Week, which starts on Monday.

Information evenings, roadshows and drop-in centres for parents are being
arranged in Tayside, Grampian, Lanarkshire, Highland and the Lothians.

Other events include displays in supermarkets in Dumfries, a football
tournament in Barlinnie prison, and a stage play in Punjabi in Glasgow.

Checked-by: Don Beck