§ Baroness Masham of Iltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether a voluntary or statutory organisation could be established to advise parents, teachers, youth and social workers and others dealing with young people, if they are worried that young people may have become involved with drug taking.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Lord Glenarthur)Our main aim should be to encourage714WA local statutory health, social, education, youth, police and probation services, in co-operation with voluntary organisations, to respond effectively to those seeking their advice and help. We are considering what more can be done in the light of the comments received on the recommendations of the Report on Treatment and Rehabilitation of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (HMSO 1982, £3.95 net) on the training and co-operation of professionals and voluntary workers.
National voluntary organisations already providing advice and information, some with financial support from the Government, include:
The Standing Conference on Drug Abuse, a co-ordinating body for voluntary organisations in the field of drug misuse;
Release, which offers advice on the legal and other consequences of drug misuse, and publishes drug education material;
The Teachers' Advisory Council on Alcohol and Drug Education, which provides education and training material primarily directed towards the formal education system;
The National Youth Bureau, which publishes material which includes information on the legal aspects of drug misuse;
The Institute for the Study of Drug Dependence, which produces information leaflets, health and social education material and materials for the training of professionals.
The Health Education Council provides education materials covering drug misuse as part of the work on promoting health education.
In view of the number of organisations with complementary roles working well together in the field of drug misuse, the Government do not propose to establish one.