The Angelus Foundation Asks ‘Will the Government Act to Save Young Lives?’

LONDON, October 27, 2011 -

Further to the publication of the ACMD report on Legal Highs on 25 October , which stated that the government should ‘continue to strengthen public awareness and education of the dangers of using substances for which no safety data exists’ The Angelus Foundation is campaigning to re-instate Drug Education in the National Curriculum.

Drug education in the UK is no longer compulsory, resulting in young people being harmed and even dying as a result.  Now that PHSE has gone from the National Curriculum schools are left to choose whether they teach drugs education or not; and there is no accountability.  According to Dr Nicola Newton, research psychologist at the University of South Wales, and member of the Angelus Advisory Board, despite the fact that there are positive programmes that reduce the use of drugs, alcohol and legal highs by between 50 - 80% within a year or two, some schools in the UK are implementing programmes that have negative outcomes, resulting in an increased consumption of drugs.    

Climate is a universal programme that was pioneered in Australia, which is computer based, and aimed at all children in schools.  It takes up 4.5 hours on the curriculum and has shown to reduce the use of drugs, alcohol and legal highs dramatically.  

Preventure is another proven programme, aimed at students with risky behaviour which was pioneered in Canada and the UK.  It takes 2.5 hours on the timetable and has also been shown to dramatically reduce the use of drugs, alcohol and legal highs within two years.

The cost of implementing these programmes in the UK so that they reach all children of 13 - 14 in schools is around £2.5 million.  

Professor Stephen Scott, also a member of the Angelus Advisory Board, who specialises in Family Therapy at Kings College, has pioneered effective interventions in family settings which reduce the use of drugs, alcohol and legal highs by 50% in the space of one year.  The cost per family is £2000, compared with the cost of one child going down the drugs route which costs the tax-payer over a £1 million by the time they are 30 years old.

‘The ACMD report calling for tougher controls on legal highs highlights the need for the implementation of education in schools and families’, said Maryon Stewart, the Founder of the Angelus Foundation.  ’We are therefore urging the Government to highlight the benefits of these programmes to the regions, so that they use their budget wisely to prevent young people coming to harm and, literally, save lives as a result.’

Dr Nicola Newton speaking about drugs education programmes

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Professor Stephen Scott speaking about effective family therapy

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For further information please contact:
Maryon Stewart at the Angelus Foundation on +44(0)8451771070
maryonstewart@angelusfoundation.com

Holly Sutton at Journalista
T: +44(0)20-7232-4671
M: +44(0)7966280542
E: holly@journalista.co.uk

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