YOUTH SEE `WAR ON DRUGS' AS AN ATTACK ON THEM SAYS REPORT

The authorities' 'war on drugs' may be seen by young people as a war on
them, on their aspirations and on their appetite for pleasure and thrills,
a seminar in Dublin has been told.

Those behind the 'war' were urged to call it off and replace the rhetoric
of 'war' and 'zero tolerance' with thoughtful policies to promote the
concerns of young people and the debate on drug use.

Mr Barry Cullen, Programme Director at the Children's Centre at Trinity
College Dublin, said the wart zones were the inner city flat complexes and
suburban local authority housing estates.

It was voluntary groups within these communities which the Eastern health
Board relied on for partnerships to promote and develop its services.

These volunteers, with insight and innovation, were working from rundown
community centres.

Speaking at a seminar at Trinity College on "Young People and Drugs,
Reconsidering Policies", he stressed that local support groups needed
better resourcing.

Harmreduction messages coming from those who already work within the drug
scene, were best.

"The desire to use mood altering substances is deeply ingrained in human
nature it cannot be wished away through legislation or coercion, said Mr
Cullen.

"Society's reluctance or failure to see the complexity behind drug problems
is what results in it being simplified in black and white terms. Drug use
is bad; drug use is good. Rather than unravel this complexity, it seems a
lot easier to go to war on drugs", he added.