In Kent, action will include an event at South Kent College, Folkestone, where students on the popular Progression Award in Community Justice course will be bringing home the dangers and harm of drug misuse to fellow students to prevent them becoming tomorrow's drug users. The event, taking place on the afternoon of Tuesday 20 May also aims to inform and engage all college students (age 16 - 60) on work being done locally to make their communities safer, and in the light of the recent reclassification of cannabis debate, to prevent young people getting in trouble with the police.
During the rest of the week, students will be working in a range of Kent's drug and alcohol treatment services across Kent. Their work contributes to the Government's new 10 year drugs strategy 2008: 'Drugs: protecting families and communities'.
The City and Guilds Level 3 Progression Award in Community Justice course runs in partnership with Kent County Council's Drug and Alcohol Action Team (KDAAT), South Kent College, Folkestone and the University of Kent at Canterbury. It involves practical studies and is open to anyone including those who have experienced substance misuse firsthand as well as people already working in the sector as paid or volunteer staff.
Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker said:
"National Tackling Drugs Week is about highlighting the vital everyday work that goes on every day across the country to cut drug use. I want to congratulate those who go that extra mile to help thwart drug supply and encourage young people to stay away from drugs.
"We can only do this through tough enforcement combined with powerful education and drug awareness campaigns like FRANK, and, where necessary, tailored treatment to get users off drugs for the benefit of them, their families and their communities.
"We have achieved a great deal: overall drug use has fallen in the last 11 years while drug related crime has fallen by a fifth since 2003. We will continue to bear down hard on dealers while educating young people about the dangers of illegal substances."
