Pubdate: Wed, 07 Feb 2001
Source: Border Mail (Australia)
Copyright: 2001 Border Mail
Contact:  http://www.bordermail.com.au/
Author: Michael Lowe

COMIC SAYS 'DRUGS OKAY'

A Berrigan woman has hit out at a drug education comic book as glamorising 
a terrible social problem.

Mrs Marie Cox said the Streetwize Hep C comic, funded by the NSW Health 
Department, was more like an Archie comic than a useful tool in the fight 
against drugs.

She said the 20-page comic showed young people buying and using a range of 
illegal drugs.

Mrs Cox said the characters explained in detail how to use drugs and the 
drugs were consumed at nightclubs and parties, giving the drug culture a 
glamorous edge.

"It gives out the story that it is okay to use drugs and if you do not know 
how to do it, it will show you how," she said.

"The reality of drugs is that the ambulance picks up people off the streets 
and carts them into hospital and revive them so they can get another shot."

Mrs Cox said she would start lobbying for something more realistic.

Team manager at the Albury Community Health Centre Ms Kay McQuellin said 
the comic, put out by the non-government organisation, the NSW Users 
Association, made it clear to people how easily Hepatitis C could be 
transmitted, using language to which young people could relate.
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