There has never been a greater need for clarity and consistency in discussing drug-related issues with young people, says Bernie Mc Donnell, co-ordinator of Community Awareness of Drugs (CAD).
"We have a national drugs strategy. We have a national children's strategy. What about parents? What about a national parents' strategy? If we want parents to take greater responsibility for their lifestyle choices - if we want parents to take greater responsibility for their children - we must move beyond rhetoric and invest in parental drug education and support programmes. In real terms it's not happening, the needs of parents are not being met."
McDonnell was speaking at an international training workshop on parental drug education programme materials and methodologies, held at the Marino Institute of Education in Dublin last week.
CAD, which was established in 1983, is a voluntary organisation and charity that provides drug education programmes for parents, carers and community workers and receives core-funding from the South Western Area Health Board.
CAD runs a six-session drug education programme, "Parenting for Prevention". Contact Bernie Mc Donnell at the CAD office on (01) 679 2681 or 087 2464995.
