Education the key to controlling our drug menace PARENTS are
understandably terrified that their children will come to harm,
even die, through misadventure with addictive substances, licit
and illicit. The evidence is unambiguous: drugs and alcohol are
dangerous, particularly to young people, whose brains are still
developing. There is a link between substance misuse and mental
health. It is devilishly complex; substances can be the cause of
problems, and they can be a symptom. Many people misguidedly
self-medicate, worsening their issues. There will be much debate
about Assumption College's plans, reported in The Sunday Age, to
introduce drug testing. The school argues it is engaging in
early intervention and will not be randomly testing students. It
says it will be seeking to help students in need, not punishing
them. This newspaper understands the school's desire to act, and
that educators feel they are carrying much of the burden of
dealing with young people's use of drugs and alcohol. We do
believe there