Fifty young people gathered at Durham's County Hall recently to take part in a drugs awareness debate. The event, organised by the Durham Children and Young People's Council, was designed to allow youngsters to find out facts about taking drugs so that they could make their own informed choices. Newcastle Children's Express reporters attended the event on behalf of The Journal.
| I have had drugs education but have not been impressed... The teacher keeps saying: ‘Remember: don’t take drugs.’ |
The debate featured a panel of speakers including representatives from the police, the North-East Council on Addictions, the Home Office, a psychiatric nurse and an ex-drug user.
They were particularly impressed by the former drug user, Graeme Seed, who told of losing 22 friends to drug abuse.
He told how he had got into drugs because of a "lack of love" in his life and because he was lonely and this personal story had more impact on the reporting team than the other speakers.
He, they concluded, "knew what he was talking about, had experience, and he knew what could happen".
Here are their individual reactions to the debate and their opinions on some of the issues that were addressed
Melissa Skinner, 10,
has been a Children's Express reporter for almost two years. She is a pupil at Montagu Primary School, Newcastle.
"I didn't find the drugs debate the most interesting way of finding out about drugs - too much talking. Drugs information should be presented in an interesting way to young people our age.
"You don't really learn about drugs at school. It's just after-school groups where you get information about them.
"More should be done in schools to inform young people about drugs but it must be done in an interesting way.
"I think it would be better for young people to learn about drugs from other young people talking to them - just normal little talks like if you were friends. You would be talking to each other and at the same time you would
be learning about drugs.
"You might take notice more from another young person than you would from an adult.
"I believe that teaching should be mixed with activities, like watching videos and doing quizzes so that you're learning and at the same time having fun, so it isn't as boring.
"Adults often feel children know more about drugs than they do. One speaker really wanted to teach her children about drugs, but she didn't know anything. That is another area where education should happen.
"How are adults supposed to tell children about drugs if they never got told themselves?
"The way to tackle the availability of drugs among young people is to legalise some of them.
"If they were legal people wouldn't pay as much money to get them. Drug dealers won't be able to make money and might go out of business.
"Illegal drugs are not the only problem for young people.
"Everybody knows somebody who takes drugs. Alcohol's a drug and so is a cigarette. Cigarettes are just as dangerous. With alcohol you might do something you regret or even get put in jail for doing stupid things."
Philip Lockyer, 17,
has been a Children's Express editor for four years and is now employed as a youth issues researcher for Newcastle City Council.
"Drugs give young people a buzz and alcohol makes it better.
"I don't believe cannabis is too dangerous but many young people get bored by its effects and they might well think of moving on to something heavier like Ecstasy or "speed" (amphetamines).
"I'm aware that young people mix drugs to get a "better buzz", but they take little notice of stories in the media which show the damage such behaviour can cause.
"For example there was the recent story about local youngsters ending up in comas but people I've met don't take any notice.
"I cannot remember receiving any drugs education while I was at school, and think young people need to be educated by other young people who have taken drugs.
"Young people shouldn't mix drugs together because they don't know what kind of risk they're taking.
"The only way you are going to get that across is by using young people who have experienced drugs to visit schools and give advice to younger people. Like the ex-user in the drugs debate, they have the experience.
"One solution to youth misuse of drugs is legalisation. Drugs could be legalised and they could be taxed to drive the price up. That would stop some people taking them."
Carly Storey, 12,
has been a Children's Express reporter for eight months. She is a pupil at Kenton College.
"I thought the debate was interesting, but not an ideal way for younger ones to learn. I wouldn't recommend it to primary schools. We were there for two hours but most primary school children wouldn't sit that long.
"I can't recall having received any drugs education at school, but I do remember a school trip where our class saw a drama production that talked about drugs.
"There was this screen and people were talking behind it who had been involved with drugs. There was this woman behind the screen saying how she took drugs and that her kids had copied her.
"She was crying and saying how she regretted it now because her kids have taken no notice of what she'd done.
"My main knowledge about drugs comes from my parents, although if I needed advice I might approach my school. I don't feel I'd have any trouble resisting illegal drugs, but I'm not so certain about alcohol, especially if I was with a group of friends.
"I just don't know because I haven't experienced it yet."
Natasha Crowl, 11,
has been a Children's Express reporter for nearly two years. She is a pupil at Kenton College.
"I found the debate a boring way to present information to people my age but found the testimony from Graeme Seed interesting.
"People like him have more idea of what is happening. I have had drugs education at school but have not been impressed. We learn about drugs but the teacher just keeps saying things over and over again.
"All the time when we do it the teacher keeps saying: 'Just remember don't take drugs. Write down, don't take drugs.'The same words every time.
"I'm in favour of former users coming into school to speak to pupils. People will only sit and listen if someone comes in and they really were a drug addict.
"They've experienced it all and they can tell all the pupils about it and then they might listen.
"I would approach the school if I had to for advice, but would probably first ask an adult who knows about drugs or go to a youth club or project.
"I don't think it's best for parents to tell children because they probably won't take much notice. Young people, I think, would rather listen to their friends. When it's your parents, sometimes you disagree with them.
"Adults should be more honest with young people about drugs experiences they had when they were younger.
"That way young people would benefit from their parents' experience. I don't think I will have any problem resisting illegal drugs or alcohol."
About the team
This article was produced by the Children's Express Newcastle bureau. It was published in the Newcastle Journal.
