The Swiss and the Dutch have already reached this conclusion and have begun similar programmes to this. I don't want to see more deaths, more addicts, further increases in crime and the desperation of families and whole communities, whilst we watch and wait for the Swiss and Dutch results. I believe the time has come for us to have the courage to act. We need to accept that young people often take drugs because they like them, at least in the initial stages. The problem as I see it has been the type of drug education young people have received.
Education needs to begin at least two years before the likely age of experimentation.
This could mean beginning drug education as early as eight years old. This education has to be appropriate for the age group concerned. Primary school children are more likely than adolescents to heed the voices of those in authority but for teenagers, life skills approaches are more appropriate. I believe such education is likely to be more effective in safeguarding young people. There is a particular need for action on Ecstasy.