Children prefer trained adults for drug education
But parents believe they are the best people to be teaching their children on the subject.
The research comes as a separate report today details the medical and legal consequences of cannabis use in Ireland.
The study examined the work of three community-based drug prevention projects among fifth and sixth classes in primary schools in south Dublin.
When children were asked who would be their first preference to teach them about drugs:
55% said the course facilitators (adults trained in drug education);
22% said parents;
20% said former drug users.
When parents were asked the same question, the figures were 62%, 20% and 8% respectively.
Author Bernie Collins said the rating for ex-drug users by primary school children was noteworthy.
“While this approach has been used to some extent in second-level schools, it has not been used at primary level as far as this researcher is aware.”
She said while this approach had support among some drug prevention educators, others said it was counterproductive.
Ms Collins said the fact that teachers did not rate highly among children was a cause of concern.
The study, commissioned by the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Local Drugs Task Force, said 45% of children found parents easiest to talk to about drugs, followed by 30% for facilitators.
Ms Collins said while parents would be comforted by their high rating, other research indicated that on entering second-level children were more likely to turn to a friend than a parent.
Meanwhile, a report to be published today was expected to say the extent of cannabis dependency in the country was not known.
The study, published by the State-appointed National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD), was expected to conclude that regular users of cannabis were more likely to use other substances.
The report includes research on various aspects of cannabis use.
