PRACTICAL DRUG STRATEGY DEALS WITH REALITY

I WAS somewhat taken aback by Ms Mullins' letter (Beware stealth in drug
debate, 11/3) which took me to task for suggesting in a recent article
(West 1/3, "Get with it" drugs call) that drug education needed to go
beyond telling students not to use drugs.

It would be nice if we could point out the dangers of drug use to students
and then have them make responsible decisions not to use. Unfortunately,
several decades of experience indicates that this does not work. A big
proportion of students will try alcohol, tobacco and cannabis. Harm
minimisation is a practical strategy that deals with this reality.

This approach does not condone or encourage drug use but seeks to reduce
harm and keep young people safe. Abstinence can be one way of reducing
harm but much more can be done. Good drug education operates at several
levels to meet the needs of all students, including those who decide to use
alcohol or other drugs. It seeks to equip young people with the skills to
make better informed or more responsible decisions.

If your teenager is going to a party where alcohol will be available, is
the "just say no" message going to keep them safe or would you want them to
have practical strategies for dealing with problems that may arise from
their drinking or the drinking of others?

DR RICHARD MIDFORD, Senior research fellow, National Drug Research
Institute, Curtin University, West Perth