44.5% of school
students in the Basque Country have smoked dope* on at least one occasion, and
9.5% have tried speed, according to Jesus Perez Arrospide, president of the
Fundacion Vivir sin Drogas (Live without Drugs Foundation). The president added
that between the ages of 14 and 15 "is a critical period as regards the
consumption of drugs " Drug use has increased among teenagers since 1991, and
"over-consumption affects 26.9% of 13-19 year-old students.In order to combat
this growing trend, the organisation is involved in 12 projects, with a budget
of over 10 million pesetas. All schools in Araba have received information, as
have 11,000 families and 100,000 residents Many teachers agree that specific
prevention "is the best strategy" to confront problems caused by drug
consumption in schools, and want "more specific material about preventive
programs Kontxi Gabantxo, Basque Government Drug dependence Unit secretary
commented that "Alcohol consumption continues to go up, and more and more
youngsters are turning into* big users" (E) |
|
|
|
GOVERNMENT MAKES CAMPAIGN MISTAKES A central government campaign to reduce drug use ran into problems in
the Basque Country. The campaign slogan, "A tope sin drogas" - Live life to the
full without drugs- was translated into Euskera as "Atsedenik E: drogank gabe,"
which more or less translates as "no rest without drugs" There were also
difficulties with the Catalan version.However, the problem has now been solved
and new postcards have been produced with the slogan "Pnmeran drogank gabe-
"It's great without drugs." (I) |