In Scotland we are heading for our Scottish Parliament elections, so it is a good time to get the political parties committed to some sensible action. At each election I have challenged all the parties to commit to actions that will reduce drug use in children. Here is my challenge to them this time.
THREE IMMEDIATE ACTIONS THAT POLITICIANS COULD TAKE TO PROTECT MINORS FROM SERIOUS HARM FROM DRUG USE.
1 REVISE THE LAWS ON TOBACCO, ALCOHOL AND ILLICIT DRUGS, TO ENSURE THAT OUR LAWS ARE EFFECTIVE IN SUPPORTING ACTIONS, TO PREVENT MINORS FROM COMING TO HARM FROM DRUG USE, AND MISUSE.
2 PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE, COUNTRY-WIDE, PROGRAMME OF DRUGS EDUCATION FOR PARENTS AND ALL CARERS OF MINORS, TO EMPOWER ADULTS WHO WANT TO HELP THEIR CHILDREN TO AVOID BEING SERIOUS HARMED FROM USING OR MISUSING, DRUGS.
3 LOOK AGAIN AT HOW WE DESCRIBE AND CLASSIFY DRUGS AND DRUG MISUSE, TO PROVIDE THE BEST AND MOST RELIABLE INFORMATION POSSIBLE, FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION ON DRUGS.
THIS ACTION IS ESSENTIAL FOR ENSURING THAT THE PUBLIC CAN TRUST THE HEALTH INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE STATE, TO GUIDE THEM IN THEIR USE OF DRUGS THAT ARE LIKELY TO IMPACT ON THEIR CHILDREN?S HEALTH.
These actions could start to address the fact although smoking in children is going down, more girls than boys are still starting to smoke. Legally you can smoke at any age - a stupid law. Lot of smoking amongst the young is linked to cannabis use, the second most popular drug in the UK.
The most likely cause of death before 21 in the UK is an RTA involving alcohol, followed by suicide and violence.
You can consume alcohol from the age of 5 - another crazy law.
Adults think there are thousands of deaths from illicit drugs - the last count in Scotland was 574. But tobacco killed almost 13,500 and alcohol at least 1250. Criminal drug dealers have no respect for the law. To revise our laws to make it illegal to purchase or consume illicit drugs, under a certain age, e.g. 18 or 21 would allow us to convict adults who exploit children by selling drugs to them or allowing them to use them.
Any feedback or comments from mumsnetters would be very welcome.