Anti-drug Campaign

HC Deb 18 July 1991 vol 195 cc284-5W

Mr. Roger King

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are his plans for the national anti-drug publicity campaign 1991–92.

Mr. Dorrell

With the agreement of colleagues in other Departments concerned with drug misuse, we have agreed that this year the focus of the campaign should be changed from national mass media work to a series of locally based campaigns which are nationally signposted. The object will be to highlight local problems and local methods of prevention including the information needed by parents, the role of teachers and schools and the work of local voluntary bodies. We propose to extend the scope of the campaign to promote further action on misuse of solvents and other volatile substances on sale to the public.

A package of measures will be undertaken in Scotland to complement and support Great Britain-wide activity. Work will also be set in hand to prepare the ground for a major campaign on drugs prevention in 1992 during the United Kingdom Presidency of the European Community.