Drugs awareness: the hard facts that parents need to know

A recent parents' meeting in Dublin heard that the best way to help your children overcome the lure of drugs is to be honest rather than resort to scaremongering. And self-esteem is key, writes Louise Holden.

Rocks of crack cocaine were passed around with cups of coffee at last month's meeting of the Belvedere College Parents' Association. More than 100 parents had come to listen to Chief Supt Brian Roberts of the Garda National Drugs Unit that Monday night.

Each adult had come out of concern for his son, but there was no evidence of panic. A jovial Chief Supt Roberts quipped about passing the cannabis around and raised a few laughs with stories of ecstasy tablets with names such as "Mitsubishi" and "I Love You".doesn't work. Young people need self-esteem and the ability to say no.

The relaxed atmosphere at the event did not reflect a relaxed approach to drug misuse, but rather a changing attitude among a new generation of parents and officials towards the issue. The parents at this event were resigned to the reality of drug use in their communities and eager for information that might help them support their sons. Chief Supt Roberts was keen to explode some myths about drugs and young people.

He described in great detail the features and effects of some of the most common drugs available, but constantly reminded parents that they are not nearly as accessible to school-age children as many parents may fear. "Cocaine is Ireland's drug of choice at the moment and parents should be aware of it. However, it's not easy to buy the drug on the street or in pubs and clubs. Many adults with responsible jobs use cocaine recreationally and get it from contacts - it's quite an insular scene and not many school children come into contact with it."

Heroin, which Roberts described as the "black drug", is a terrible scourge on users, but he was again keen to point out that the chances of school-going children getting hold of the drug are quite low. The "dealer at the school gates" is a mythical creature - children are at far greater risk from internal factors when it comes to drug abuse.

"Younger people in Ireland are wary about getting involved in heroin because they know about the risks involved," Roberts told listeners. "Given all the information available, why would anybody try it? Of the heroin users I have spoken to I noted the same characteristic amongst them all - low self-esteem."

A speaker from the audience who had worked with young drug-users echoed Roberts's sentiments. "The fear factor doesn't work. Young people need self-esteem and the ability to say no. There is huge pressure on students to be the best. If they don't feel like the best they can be tempted to opt out. We need to keep talking to them, raising their sense of self and giving them permission to say no to drugs."

Despite the pragmatic tone of Roberts's address and the subsequent discussion, there was no sense of complacency at the meeting. The turnout itself suggested that parents are switched on to the drugs threat. Audience members winced as Roberts described heroin users making ham-fisted attempts to purify the drug before injection, and the freefall addiction of crack cocaine users made for difficult listening.

Roberts had good news, too. The incidence of ecstasy use in Ireland is in decline, he said, and LSD - or acid - is rarely seized any more. The two most prevalent drugs among school-goers are cannabis and the ultimate gateway drug, alcohol.

He told parents: "Your children are likely to have brief - if any - encounters with hard drugs. It's not something to leave here in a panic about. The most common drug used by school children is cannabis - and in this regard, a little bit of understanding is a good thing. If you suspect your son is smoking cannabis, talk to him."

Roberts's description of "hash heads" left many parents wondering how a cannabis habit could ever be conducive to a fulfilling school career. "Look out for teenagers who are really switched off, not inclined to enter into conversation, not really with it at all. Alternatively, they might be laughing hysterically. It's not that easy to spot, but prolonged and constant use of the drug can really leave users not knowing if they're coming or going."

The questions that came from the audience after Roberts's talk revealed a high level of knowledge about the drug scene among parents. This is the trend right across the country, says Chief Supt Barry O'Brien of the Garda National Drugs Unit. "We get plenty of requests from parents' associations to give talks on drug awareness and they're usually well attended. My generation has a reasonable knowledge of drugs, as they have become more mainstream in the last 20 years. Most of the parents who come to these meetings are basically looking for the confidence to talk to their teenagers about the issue."

Parents are glad of a bit of practical information - they realise that scare tactics don't work on teenagers when it comes to substance misuse. "Our research shows that drugs are not pushed on teenagers by strangers in clubs or on the street. The vast majority of teenagers are introduced to drugs by family members or friends. Parents need to look closer to home and they need to know what to look out for."

Overall, parents were left with the impression that they had more control over the situation than they might have realised, and that communication continues to be the best defence.

Drugs are an issue for all students, but some are at greater risk than others. Next month, the association will tackle the subject of drugs again with Conor McNulty, chief medical officer of the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU). Do dealers stalk the locker room? These parents are hoping to find that out.