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Mrs Yu noted that the department since the last Summit Meeting in March 1995 has devoted efforts to enhance awareness of the need for schools and parents to impress upon the young people the harms from drugs and the importance of healthy living.
The programme undertaken by the department in the past year included the running of drug education training courses for over 400 teachers, launching of a pilot scheme on school-based drug education courses in 21 schools and the provision of a grant to the Life Education Activity Programme.
In addition, the department has also developed model programmes for parents, staged a roving exhibition, set up a home-school link enquiry service in three pilot schools and opened a drug education resource centre.
Education programmes have also been introduced in 12 drug treatment and rehabilitation centres for drug abusers aged 18 or below, and research was initiated on the use of peer support and life skill counsellors to beat drugs. Mrs Yu assured that in the coming school year, more schools will be offering drug education programmes and joining forces against drug abuse.
The department, aiming to have at least one teacher capable of handling drug abuse problems in every secondary school by 1997, will review and where appropriate improve its in-service teacher education programme.
"We plan to organise an international conference on drug education next year: to share experience with neighbouring experts in the Pacific Rim and to exchange ideas on further initiatives to combat the problem," Mrs Yu added. She said the department is working with RTHK on the production of a TV series for young people. featuring healthy living and positive attitude towards life.
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