Ainsworth: new push against hard drugs

Ministers have unveiled their latest campaign aimed at cutting drug use among young people.

In a show of force, Home Office minister Bob Ainsworth, health minister Hazel Blears and education minister Ivan Lewis joined together to promote new advice, information and support for vulnerable young people.

The new campaign will focus on the risks associated with Class A drug use.

Ministers also want to provide credible and reliable information to parents and carers.

The initiative is part of the cross-government strategy being led by the Home Office.

Early intervention through schools, youth teams or social services before problems escalate is the central aim as well as tackling related issues.

"Drug misuse does not occur in isolation. It is associated with other problems such as the misuse of other substances, youth offending, truancy and school exclusion, family problems and living in crime-ridden, deprived communities," according to the Home Office.

The focus on young people is driven by a series of pilot studies including one that found 66 per cent of young offenders charged with "trigger" offences, such as burglary and theft involving vehicles were addicted to class A drugs such as cocaine.

"Success for the drug strategy means preventing today's young people from becoming tomorrow's problematic drug users," said the Home Office.

"All controlled drugs are dangerous and young people and their families need credible, realistic information to protect themselves from the risks and dangers of drug misuse."