HC Deb 21 October 1986 vol 102 cc869-70W
Sir David Price

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress he has made with his advertising campaign to warn young people of the dangers of drug abuse; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Currie

The campaign of education and information on drug misuse which has been running since February 1985 has been carefully evaluated. The reports of the campaign evaluation have been placed in the Library. The results indicate that the campaign has been achieving its aims of improving levels of information and hardening attitudes towards heroin. In particular evaluation shows— that the campaign has been widely noticed by young people —that a greater proportion of young people were aware of the physical and social consequences of heroin misuse — that fewer young people saw heroin as attractive or glamorous —that a greater proportion (94 per cent. after the first year of the campaign compared with 83 per cent. before) of young people said that they would refuse an offer of heroin.

We are continuing to monitor the effects of the campaign.

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