Pubdate: Tue, 19 Mar 2002 Source: Edinburgh Evening News (UK) Copyright: 2002 The Scotsman Publications Ltd Contact: http://www.edinburghnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1626 KIDS NEED DRUG FACTS TODAY marks a radical shift in the Scottish Executive's policy on drugs. Politicians have finally accepted that the "just say no" policy, however well intentioned, just doesn't work. Instead, the Know the Score campaign will aim to give young people detailed information about the risks of each individual drug. People may fear that this appears to be going soft on drugs, but the stark reality is that despite previous warnings, young people are still taking drugs and in greater numbers than ever before. Simply telling kids not to take them because all drugs screw you up has not been a credible approach. There is no doubt that cannabis experimentation in particular is widespread among young people. Many do unfortunately move on to harder and far more dangerous drugs, like cocaine, heroin or ecstasy. Equally, many stick with cannabis or merely dabble before turning to legal substances like tobacco and alcohol. To tar cannabis with the same brush as much more harmful drugs like heroin is an obvious failing in the Government's past drugs policy. Frankly it was an insult to the intelligence of young people, and it is hardly surprising so many ignored the warnings completely. Therein lies the tragedy, as so many young people have fallen victim to ecstasy and even heroin and its dire consequences - addiction, HIV infection, criminal behaviour to feed their habits, even overdose and death. The Executive's decision to abandon the "just say no" policy in favour of harm reduction through education is a brave one. It risks incurring the wrath of many anti-drugs campaigners who still advocate a zero tolerance approach. Yet as long as the information given to children pulls no punches about the damage caused by hard drugs, it is the right thing to do. Hopefully, once armed with the facts, young people will make an informed decision to avoid taking drugs. But children need to know the real risks if they are to recognise that drugs can ruin their lives. Get physical THE education of our children is one of the most fundamental and crucial services that the Government provides. And education doesn't just take place in the classroom, but the hockey pitch, football field and gymnasium. PE is being increasingly being recognised as key part of education in schools. Given Scotland's appalling health record, it is only by educating children about the benefits of exercise that we hope that the next generation will be healthier adults. Therefore the news that an additional ?87 million is to be ploughed into PE in schools across Scotland has to be welcome. After all, public opinion polls consistently rate education as a top priority for spending taxpayers' money. It is rather galling to see lottery money being used to shore up the education service when the public already pays for it through income tax and council tax. It could even be argued that using lottery grants to bolster public services actually amounts to taxation by stealth. But however unpalatable this may be, the reality is that lottery offers millions of pounds in extra funds that is now available for good causes. That money is surely far better spent on priorities like education and health than trivial projects. Anything that helps to prise couch potatoes off the sofa can only be a good thing. - --- MAP posted-by: S Heath(DPF of Florida)