Pubdate: Fri, 21 Jul 2000 Source: Herald Sun (Australia) Copyright: News Limited 2000 Contact: PO Box 14999, Melbourne City, MC 8001 Australia Fax: (03) 9292 2112 Website: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/ Author: Nicola Webber SHOCK DRUG ADS TO AIM AT YOUNG A SHOCK advertising campaign could be used to warn young Victorians about the dangers of drugs. It would highlight the dangers of using and abusing various drugs, with the advertisements assessed and changed over a 10-year period. Victorian health authorities are investigating the proposal to stop young people experimenting with drugs. State Government drugs adviser David Penington said it was up to government and the community to deter drug use. "It's not enough just to respond once a young person finds themselves dependent," he said. Prof. Penington said more than half of Victoria's Year 12 students had tried marijuana. He said decriminalisation of the drug was not on the agenda and more needed to be done to stop widespread cannabis use among young people. "The incidence of cannabis abuse is of particular concern," he said. "The harmful impacts of cannabis use have been underestimated by some sections of the community, who see its use as low risk." International drug prevention experts will attend a forum in Melbourne next week as part of the campaign to stop drug abuse. The forum on July 26 and 27 will consider drug education campaigns, the role of the family, counselling services and school-based programs. VicHealth chief executive Dr Rob Moodie said Victoria was examining an anti-drug advertising campaign being run in Switzerland. But he said it was vital to ensure such advertisements did not inadvertently encourage people to experiment with drugs. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart