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Today, Thursday, 20-06-96, the Presbyterian Church launches a new drug awareness pack for youth leaders to give them a resource to help them guide young people in making the right decision about drugs.
The Pack entitled "Get Real" will be launched at a lunch time presentation (12 noon) in Church House, Fisherwick Place, Belfast by Deputy Chief Constable Ronnie Flannigan, Presbyterian Moderator Dr Harry Allen, Dr Jim Hawthorne, Chairman of the Health Promotion Agency and Mrs Christine Jendoubi of the Department of Education
"Get Real" is a 70 page resource book and has been produced by the Alcohol and Drug Education (ADE) Committee of the Board of Social Witness of the Presbyterian Church. Their remit is to monitor the use of both legal and illegal drugs throughout Ireland and working closely with education, health and law enforcement agencies, produce educational information for use in schools and churches that advocates a christian based response to the drug problem. One of their great concerns is the lack of awareness among many people in leadership positions who donšt realise the extent of the problem.
"Because they aren't generally targeted, leaders often donšt know of the pressure on young people who come into daily contact with the drug culture that exists here," explains Rev Robin Greer, Convener of the ADE Committee. "Members of church youth groups and Christian young people are not immune to persuasion to use drugs. We would be aware that in some groups maybe 90% of the young people come into contact with drugs and we need to equip our leaders with up to date and relevant information to counteract the influence of the drug users and pushers. The aim of the information pack is to heighten awareness and to give some positive help to those in leadership positions in the Church and in schools to develop their awareness of the drugs scene as it exists today throughout the province."
Over the years the ADE Committee has consistently run seminars throughout the country specifically for parents and youth leaders to help them understand the situation. "Older people have great difficulty in understanding the problem and the pressures," said Mr Greer. "However, recent tragedies have clearly highlighted the dangers of drug abuse, and there is a desire evident in people who have influence with young people to want to learn more so that they can do as much as possible to protect them from the drug menace."
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