Drugs awareness strategy must reflect complexity of the issues

THE review of the last national drugs awareness campaign should make essential reading for those involved in the new campaign.

It’s a sobering read. Written in academic prose, it takes a number of readings before the findings and messages sink in.

Its publication is very timely, given the high-profile deaths of three young people — model and socialite Katy French; and Waterford party-goers John Grey and Kevin Doyle — after taking illegal drugs towards the end of 2007.