MORE YOUTH SEEKING DRUGS EDUCATION

WANGANUI'S young people are asking for more detailed and earlier drug
education for them, their peers and younger brothers and sisters.

Wanganui Youth Services Trust manager Jean Benge said yesterday that
after publicity about the rising rate of the serious sexually
transmitted infection (STI) gonorrhea last month, more than 300 young
people booked appointments with the service.

With so many new clients booked in, trust staff decided to draw up a
general questionnaire asking what did they consider their needs were
and how did they need the service to help them.

The overwhelming answer given by most, who were aged between 14 and
22, was for more and detailed information on drugs.

Most of them them said they didn't just want the information for
themselves and their peers, but wanted it for younger siblings at home.

She said it was amazing and very heartening to realise these young
people trusted staff at the service enough to talk to them about
other issues that were troubling them as well.

A lot of them were there for an STI check, but most just wanted to
talk to us.

It was the call for more drug information that had really surprised
staff. Especially that information about drugs should be given out
much earlier in schools, she said. Their main concern was for young
siblings, not wanting them to get hooked into the drug world because
once you're in it's hard, hard time trying to quit.

Ms Benge believes that young people in the city are becoming more
aware, especially about health and drug issues.

They are talking to us and we're very happy because it shows there
really is a growing awareness out there among our young people at last.