Ed Sipler says there has been a big shift in gender profile

The tragedy of alcoholism and drug addiction should be the furthest things from their minds.

However, health bodies in County Down have begun to focus on primary school pupils in order to prevent these problems in later life.

As the age profile of those suffering from addiction falls, that concentration is given even greater importance.

For Ed Sipler, a health promotion specialist in alcohol and drugs at Down Lisburn Trust, the emphasis is not on scaring children about the dangers, but shielding them with "protective factors".

The strategy is based on a partnership of voluntary and statutory bodies, schools and parents.

The partners have already taken the Chrysalis drug prevention programme into all 39 post-primary schools in the South Eastern Education and Library Board area.

"This partnership approach is unique - an inclusive, comprehensive programme," Ed told BBC News Online.

"This is probably one of the few programmes which has every one of the schools taking a consistent approach.

"That was our aim from the beginning - how to get young people to develop consistent messages."

Facilities like Downpatrick's Shimna House treat addicts

Those messages focus on young people's self-esteem and building a sense of belonging.

"Some research suggests kids know what being drunk is as young as five. How do these attitudes, values, skills begin to be formed - and they start from day one.

"You could argue that it really starts in the toddler ages and in initial bonding.

"When kids are 5, 6, and 7, you are not zooming in heavy and teaching them the dangers of drugs.

"What you are doing is teaching these protective factors - solid self-esteem, good decision-making. The most important one is good relationships - that they feel connected both at school and home.

"That is fundamental, and that could start at no age.

"The message to a primary one pupil may sound corny, but it is this: 'You are special, you have strengths, you have value and skills.' It has nothing to do with 'there are dangers out there', - that may form part of it, but it is not the key message."

'Quite serious problems'

Ed believes every addiction unit across Northern Ireland and wider would say the age of people developing problems with alcohol and other drugs "has drastically reduced".

"At one stage the average age of someone coming into Shimna House (addiction facility in Downpatrick) was in their 40s. Now it is not uncommon to see people here - both men and women - in their early 20s.

"It makes sense - if you start drinking heavy at 13 or 14 and have a 10 year drinking career, by the the time you are 23 or 24, you could have developed quite serious problems."

Alcohol is so more freely available. You would have to certainly suggest alcohol being sold in supermarkets is a contributing factor Ed Sipler

Northern Ireland does not have a residential unit for people under 18 who have a drink or drug addiction.

That is now being identified as a need within Northern Ireland.

Direct and indirect costs related to alcohol abuse in Northern Ireland is �777m annually and alcohol related mortality has more than doubled since 1986.

A third of all premature deaths in middle aged men are estimated to be alcohol-related.

"The other big shift that we have seen over the last number of years is the gender profile - more women," says Ed.

"Alcohol is so more freely available. You would have to certainly suggest alcohol being sold in supermarkets is a contributing factor."

With changes in social taboos, women are now drinking more, says Ed.

"Research clearly suggests that when alcohol is more freely available you will have more problems."

With changes in social taboos, women are now drinking more

He said the "buy one get one free" culture in supermarkets and other promotions could also arguably be a contributing factor.

"If you go out and ask 'Joe Public' if alcohol is a drug, they will say that it is. But when you are standing in any of the supermarkets looking at the shelf, how many people will say: 'What kind of mood-altering sedative drug am I going to buy tonight?' We don't think that way."

The growing number of people with addictions has created further pressure on already over-stretched resources.

But Ed says that it is not down to resources not being properly used.

"You could have a team double the size that you have now and there still would be enough work for everyone."