Protecting our kids from drugs
Youth between the ages of 13 and 15 are the most likely to try illicit drugs for the first time. This is a shocking statistic. And it’s the reason that our Government has unveiled the youth component of our National Anti-Drug Strategy, which educates young people on the dangers of illicit drugs and encourages them to turn their backs on drugs.
Our Government’s ‘Drugs not4me’ campaign includes a website (www.not4me.ca), television ad, and other social media geared to youth. We are informing our kids that drugs are dangerous and will have a destructive impact on their lives.
In addition, the campaign includes advertisements in buses, trains, subways and shopping malls across Canada, as well as Internet banners on websites popular with teens. The television commercial was launched on December 28 and will also be aired in movie theatres across the country in March.
Our National Anti-Drug Strategy has a two-track strategy: we’re tough on the dealers of drugs but compassionate to their victims, with a focus on prevention and treatment. With our new ‘Drugs not4me’ campaign, we want to prevent kids from using drugs in the first place.
For too long in Canada, previous governments have sent mixed messages on drugs. Switching between prohibition and liberalization so many times that Canadians are finding it difficult to know what the law says.
The message of our Conservative Government is clear: drugs are dangerous and destructive.
Since the launch of our National Anti-Drug Strategy, our Government has introduced a number of measures to get tough on drugs including introducing legislation to tackle serious drug crimes. The Liberals, however, proceeded to gut this legislation in the Senate, removing mandatory penalties aimed at drug producers.
Unfortunately, the opposition claims to share Canadians concerns about drugs, but when the cameras are off, they gut, derail, delay or block urgently-needed legislation.
Instead of blocking legislation that protects Canadians, and more importantly our kids, from the dangers of drugs, we urge the opposition to work with us in implementing our National Anti-Drug Strategy. Canadians – and our kids – are counting on us.
