Pubdate: Tue, 01 Jun 1999 Source: Illawarra Mercury (Australia) Copyright: Illawarra Newspapers Contact: http://mercury.illnews.com.au/ Author: Jenny Dennis DRUG KIT TO GET FAMILIES TALKING A Positive Starting Point In the wake of the Sydney drugs forum, federal member for Cunningham Stephen Martin yesterday launched a drug awareness kit designed to get Illawarra families talking about drugs. The MP said his Wollongong Drug Awareness Kit had been designed specifically as a resource for families. Ensuring the well-being of young people was a key obligation of a decent society, Mr Martin said. ``Providing information and talking openly about social concerns like drugs is the best way to arm our children against crime and poor lifestyle decisions.'' He said the drugs forum was a visible sign of a new approach by governments and a positive step to ensuring drugs were approached sensibly, not referred to in hushed and confusing tones. The drug awareness kit contains information about problem substances as well as preventive measures designed to stop children becoming involved in drug taking. It also lists people and places who can help with further information and assistance. It will be circulated to schools, youth centres, community and other interested groups in Wollongong. Mr Martin said the information was not exhaustive, but he hoped it would provide a starting point for families keen to discuss drug issues. Approaching drug problems with a broader view than just one of "crime'' had been a long time coming, he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Patrick Henry