Tackle drugs now, says coroner

After six young people died inhaling solvents, the Wellington coroner has called on the Government to combat drug use with a public education campaign on the same scale as anti-smoking and drink-driving advertising.

Coroner Garry Evans yesterday released his findings into the six deaths and said there had been no sustained and effective health education programme in New Zealand aimed at preventing drug taking.

There was a need for a "shift in consciousness and approach towards a societal problem that constitutes a major blight upon young lives and is reaching crisis proportions," he said in his findings into the death of 15-year-old Hayley Danielle Foster.

Hayley, a fourth form student at St Mary's College, died in 2003 after inhaling air freshener from a butane-propelled aerosol can.

The current focus of drug education on harm minimisation had limited effectiveness in reducing rampant drug abuse in New Zealand and the emphasis must change to one of harm prevention, which taught young people about the dangers of drugs, said Mr Evans.

Capital and Coast District Health Board alcohol and drug consultant Geoffrey Robinson told the court that harm-minimisation strategies were appropriate for people who were already dependent on drugs.

"However, there are risks in over-emphasis of harm reduction in educational programmes with a need to avoid mixed messages," he said.

Drug counsellor and Life Education Trust founder Trevor Grice said it was common for young people to be told to confine their drug use to the weekends, so it did not interfere with schoolwork.

Teaching children how to drink or use drugs safely was in direct conflict with the law and an "insane policy", he told the court.

St Mary's principal Mary Cook said six weeks a year were set aside for teaching the health and physical education curriculum, which included drug education.

Young people should not be taught that they had choices on whether to use drugs, Mrs Cook said.

Mr Evans said schools shouldered the entire responsibility of drug education for their pupils. Specialists should deliver drug education in schools, he recommended.

The coroner also released his findings into the deaths of: 15-year-old Adrian Curtis Hampton of Wainuiomata in March 2004; James Saulo Oti, 22, of Wainuiomata in January 2003; Houhuri Panapa, 21, of Porirua in April 2004; Peri Mana Newton, 27, of Wainuiomata in January 2004; and Paula Angel Toimata, 17, of Porirua in December 2003.

All six died as a result of inhaling butane, propane or liquid petroleum gas, Mr Evans found.

- NZPA