ANTI-DRUG STRATEGY OVERHAUL

DRUG prevention strategies are set to be overhauled in Queensland under a
submission to go before State Cabinet today.

The submission seeks to integrate the various anti-drug programs into a
co-ordinated approach with greater community involvement.

The move follows recent reports of heroin-laced honey being distributed to
Brisbane schoolchildren.

Premier Peter Beattie said at a pre-Cabinet community forum in Ipswich
yesterday that an announced $800,000 upgrade of a local sports club was
part of the co-ordinated anti-drugs strategy.

"What that does is give young people an outlet. Part of the difficulty has
been that youth get dislocated from society," he said.

"We also need a national strategy when dealing with drugs and it is
important for the Federal Government to sit down with the States."

Mr Beattie denied the Government was holding the community Cabinet meeting
in Ipswich because it was a One Nation stronghold, as was the first meeting
in the seat of Mulgrave in north Queensland.

"You have to remember there are also a number of Labor seats here as well,"
he said.

Checked-by: Pat Dolan