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2003
Know About Drugs!!
...so you don't make mistakes about drugs | |
|  | | The agony and the ecstasy |
| | A new website aims to talk about illegal drugs as much as possible.
The facts are there; and discussions about usage are there.
Because - if you don't know the monster, how do you learn to deal with the monster? |
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| | Fact - 30% of young people in our region are involved with drugs misuse.
How do you cope with that?
A new website, sponsored by the government, says the line now should be: Don't just say "Stop!", but instead we should think, talk about and discuss the use of illegal drugs, especially Class A category types.
It aims to give the facts impartially.
Talk is ... not illegal
The new website, talktofrank.com, also aims to help young people and parents become better informed about the effects of drugs.
But, more, it's to encourage them to talk to each other about this traditionally taboo topic, with the strapline and slogan - Drugs are illegal; talking about them isn't.
Users getting younger
Recent research shows that the problem of drugs misuse is increasingly affecting young people in England.
More 11-15 year olds are regularly taking drugs (18%) than smoking cigarettes (10%)
The average age of callers to the Government's helpline dropped from 29 to 20 years old in the course of the last year.
30.8% of 16-21 year olds in the West Midlands region said they took drugs in the last year.
The social and economic cost of drugs is currently estimated to be between £10-£18 billion per year.
Talking to young people rather than condemning them may be a way to combat the crisis.
Honest info
Peter Johnson of the West Midlands Drug Strategy Team commented: "This new campaign won't preach to young people but it won't condone drugs either. It will give young people and parents honest information about drug use and at the same time remove any glamour or cachet they see in doing something illegal."
In Staffordshire
At a local level, Stoke on Trent Drug Action Team supports parents, carers and young people with a wide range of programmes.
It even offers a local telephone help-line service with support, guidance and advice for drug users and the parents and carers of drug users- Telephone Druglink on 01782 425100.
Click here for Talk To Frank website
Jo's story - not so hopeful
Jo, who's 21, also entered the Stoke on Trent Targeted Initiative, after an addiction lasting since she was just 14.
But she admits now she was high on heroin even while she was giving her pledge.
She's since been evicted from a hostel, thrown out of home in Longton by her mum, and pleaded guilty before magistrates for theft.
Her baby daughter is in the care of her mother.
Two weeks ago she spent a week sleeping rough in a multi-storey car park in Hanley and developed deep-vein thrombosis in her leg from the cold.
Although Jo's health is weakened, she says she still can't absolutely promise to give up.
Until recently she'd been living with her boyfriend who also uses heroin. He's expected out of prison soon.
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