Pubdate: Tue, 08 Apr 2008
Source: Derry Journal (UK)
Copyright: 2008 Johnston Press PLC
Contact:  http://www.derryjournal.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4557
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

EIGHT YEAR-OLDS NEED EDUCATED ABOUT DRUGS-SADIE O'REILLY

A Derry woman who founded one of the city's leading  drugs charities
says that children as young as eight  need to be educated about the
dangers of drugs.

Sadie O'Reilly who runs HURT, based in Clarendon  Street, was speaking
after Gordon Brown's Advisory  Council on Drugs Misuse put forward
proposals to allow  cannabis to remain a category C substance, with
the  British Prime Minister himself of the view that it  should be
reclassified to category B status.

Negative and lasting impact

Ms. O'Reilly, who lost her own son to a heroin  overdose, says a
speedy resolution over the  classification of cannabis is essential.

She said: "Working on a daily basis with those facing  drugs
addiction, many people find addiction to cannabis  extremely difficult
to overcome.

"There is a misnomer that dope is okay with the class c
ranking.

"HURT hold a very different view aE" the manner in  which cannabis is
misused and indeed abused by many  people has a hugely negative and
lasting impact on the  individual and family members.

"This news again is sending out a mixed message.

"Gordon Brown's own advisory pan

el wish to keep the drug, a well documented gateway  drug at category
C status, and the Prime Minister of a  different view. This is merely
feeding into and  creating even greater uncertainty.

"The issue of classification is something which tends  to dominate the
headlines.

Means nothing to teenagers

"The issue of whether cannabis is a class B or indeed  class C drug
means nothing to teenagers or any  individual misusing this drug.

"Our clients are testament to the harmful effects of  prolonged use of
cannabis.

"Therefore, the emphasis must be focused towards  education,
particularly at a primary level.

"I have long been of the view that even greater drugs  awareness for
children as young as eight years old is  required.

Our own organisation is only too happy to facilitate  such learning
and this news I am bound to say will have  little or no lasting impact
on cannabis use."
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MAP posted-by: Steve Heath