NEWS: Herald Sun - 30/09/2006 'Kids' drug tips anger'

[hoptis]

Kids' drug tips anger
Matt Cunningham
September 30, 2006 12:00am

A STATE Government website for schoolies offers advice on how to take illicit drugs "safely".

The website, which the Herald Sun has chosen not to name, lists 15 drug-taking tips under its "safe partying" link.

Schoolies taking drugs are advised to sip water and wear light clothing to avoid overheating and dehydration.

The website also advises them to "take a small amount first to see how it affects you", and "tell someone else what you are taking in case you become sick or unconscious".

Other tips presented on the website include:

LOOK after each other if using drugs, and don't take drugs on your own.

TAKE regular rests from dancing and use a chill-out space to rest or recover.

IF you have taken drugs, allow your body to recover: make sure you eat well and get enough sleep.

Opposition health spokeswoman Helen Shardey said the website sent the wrong message to school leavers.

"I would have thought a government would have been more about warning people about the dangers of drugs than telling them how to take them," she said.

"I remember when my children were teenagers someone put out some information about drugs and at the time parents were saying, 'That's taught my child more about how to take drugs than about the dangers of drugs'.

"You would think the lesson would have been learnt by now."

Ms Shardey said society was already paying a high price, with cannabis use increasing mental illness, and said increased methamphetamine use was also a concern.

"They should be giving advice which helps children not to go down the drug path."

The site also has tips for drinking alcohol, avoiding drink spiking, managing disputes and violent situations, and handling sexual assault.

The website features the Government's logo and has profiles and messages from Youth Affairs Minister Jacinta Allan.

The site describes itself as "the online home of schoolies information in Victoria".

"If you're heading for the coast, the river, towards the city or staying locally for your schoolies celebrations, then this site is for you," it says.

"Here you'll find tips on getting to your schoolies destination, where to stay, what to take, what local laws you should be aware of and, most importantly, how to party safely!"

A spokeswoman for Ms Allan said the information was compiled with advice from the Premier's Drug Prevention Council.

The council's chairman, VicHealth chief executive Rob Moodie, said the website also gave information about the dangers of illicit drugs and warned young people against taking them.

"(The tips are) within the context of 'No drug is completely safe'," Dr Moodie said.

He said data showed about one in 10 school leavers used illicit drugs in the past year.

"Do you just bury your head in the sand and assume that no information is good information? Or do you say, 'This is dangerous but if you are going to do it this is the safest way to do it'?" Dr Moodie said.

"We are warning about the dangers, but this will minimise the harm of it."

Herald Sun

 

[katmeow]

"Do you just bury your head in the sand and assume that no information is good information? Or do you say, 'This is dangerous but if you are going to do it this is the safest way to do it'?" Dr Moodie said.

"We are warning about the dangers, but this will minimise the harm of it."

Amen to that. About time someone took a sensible approach!

 

[technoHarmony]

this is heaps good! harm minimisation making it mainstream

these tips could possibly save a kids life.

 

[psybeebee]

Amen to that. About time someone took a sensible approach!

I whole-heartedly agree. IMHO, youths taking drugs is NOT the big problem, it's the harm that results from the misuse of drugs. In the ideal sitaution (and we are slowly approaching that thanks to harm reduction sites like BL and the like) there would be readily available, honest information and advice for our society's youth to access; and given that the advice is taken seriously yet with caution, we could dramatically reduce harm caused by drugs.

Of course, this would probably inevitably increase drug use, however, would safe drug use be a problem in society? Alas, someone has ruled all drug use as BAD and WRONG, when really, maybe society needs to wake up and realise that there is a distinct difference between safe drug use and drug misuse. And misuse is the only real problem here (IMHO again). Could vagueness and ignorance again be the cause of closed-mindedness, at society's own loss?

 

[lok1]

would safe drug use be a problem in society? Alas, someone has ruled all drug use as BAD and WRONG, when really, maybe society needs to wake up and realise that there is a distinct difference between safe drug use and drug misuse.

Drug use is intergrated into our society in the form of alcohol. Its causes more road deaths then anything else. But its socially acceptable, so you dont see many "the booze epidemic: alcohol on the streets" news articles on ACA 8)

 

[kapow]

Drug use is intergrated into our society in the form of alcohol. Its causes more road deaths then anything else. But its socially acceptable, so you dont see many "the booze epidemic: alcohol on the streets" news articles on ACA 8)

Thats cos its more a Today Tonight kind of thing. lol! I've seen heaps of stories about kids drinking alcohol on those shows though.

 

[Portillo]

Drug use is intergrated into our society in the form of alcohol. Its causes more road deaths then anything else. But its socially acceptable, so you dont see many "the booze epidemic: alcohol on the streets" news articles on ACA 8)

If they wanted to demonise alcohol that could definately get good material. They have no choice now but to show dont drink and drive ads, however later on thered be a ad for jim bean ,or the show is sponsored by johnny walker.

 

[dreamzzz]

does the herald sun know that the government funds ravesafe??????