Opinion: Debate - Does the Government's drugs education policywork?

YES BUT - Martin Barnes, chief executive, DrugScope

We need agreement on what education is trying to achieve. Prevention isnot the only goal of drugs education, nor is education the only way topromote prevention. Schools cannot tackle all the factors that may leadyoung people to use drugs. Evaluations of school-based drugs educationhave shown mixed results in reducing drug use among young people, but weare learning all the time about more effective approaches. DrugScopebelieves drugs education must be part of a holistic approach.YES - Stephen Burgess, national director, Life Education Centres

But it is under funded. Until May 2004, schools had budgets specificallyfor drugs education. This is no longer the case. Research provesteaching about drugs as part of general ideas about health, emotionalwellbeing and assertiveness gets the message through. And, in spite ofthe falling price of drugs, the 2006 Schools Survey from the Departmentof Health showed in the last year there was a fall from 6.7 per cent to4.9 per cent of young people reporting any drug use.