PUPILS HAVE THEIR SAY ON DRUGS

Topical approach to problem

TEENAGERS from six Ulster schools joined together today to debate the
international drugs trade.

The event was the second sitting of the Lisburn Drugs and Development Youth
Parliament - part of a Europe- wide initiative for young people to learn
about, discuss and debate issues involving the production, trafficking and
consumption of illegal drugs.

It's a new approach to anti- drugs campaigns. Instead of governments and
agencies telling young people to 'just say no', teenagers are being asked
to debate and exchange ideas on the wider drugs issues.

The initiative, organised by the Council for Education in World
Citizenship, involves 2,000 16 to 19-year-olds from eight EU countries.

CEWC is a non-partisan, educational charity which promotes international
understanding Mary Smyth, a local CEWC organiser, explained: "One of the
main aims of the scheme is to enable young people to take fuller
responsibilities for the choices they make and to think of new ways to
solve the drugs problem."

Schools taking part were Assumption Grammar (Ballynahinch), Banbridge
Academy, Friends' School (Lisburn), Lisburn College, Grosvenor Grammar
(Belfast) and St Patrick's Grammar (Downpatrick).

Delegates from each parliament will attend a Parliamentary Session in
Strasbourg next autumn.