Primary school pupils should be targeted in a drugs and alcohol awareness and prevention campaign, a leading children's charity said today.
The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) said drink and drugs are now a fact of life for children nationwide, with all young people likely to come in contact with drugs at some point throughout their childhood.
The charity is working with teenagers, some as young as 13, who are suffering drug and alcohol abuse.
"The ISPCC, while not wishing to alarm parents, believes that drugs and alcohol are now a fact of life for all children in Ireland today," Chanelle Carlin, ISPCC east regional manager, said.
"Furthermore, the ISPCC believes that drug and alcohol awareness and prevention needs to be introduced as an integrated component of both the educational system, and of parenting practice in general, through the introduction of a life skills programme at primary school level."
Latest figures reveal that more than 3,000 teenagers participated in the organisation's mentoring and counselling 4me programmes in 2005. A further 62 engaged in its one-to-one service.
Almost 70 young people joined the ISPCC's mentoring service.
PA