On the homepage. The Angelus Foundation.

But the dangers aren't perceived to be the same.

It's the same message whatever the drug.

I think they are thinking more of hard drugs. This Angelus Foundation is to do with Amy Winehouse. It is on the homepage.

My dad smoked. Started when he was twelve. But he managed to convince five kids that it was not a good idea. He tried repeatedly to kick the habit but found it too hard. He used to say that the only thing he wouldn't do again if he had his life over again was to smoke. He survived a serious brain operation and then lung cancer killed him. I reckon there must be a few more families where that could happen.

Besides that, there is publicity everywhere about the dangers of smoking. Anyone who doesn't know about nicotine addiction by the time they go to secondary school is a lost cause. They don't want to know or they persist in the belief that it won't happen to them. It's a shame people who are that stupid cost so much to treat.

What's wrong with drinking alcoholic drinks in front of the kids? So long as you are sensible about it and, again, explain the dangers of overdoing it, they know the basic facts. Again, there's enough publicity everywhere about alcohol abuse.

You can teach people as much as you like but if they refuse to learn what they are being taught (i.e. are bloody-minded) what then? Take the blame? No. Just keep on with the same message. There is no reason why any youngster in this country shouldn't understand the basic risks about addiction.

Beats me how smoking and over-drinking are seen as 'cool'.

Hmm...yes, but what if Mum and Dad smoke like chimneys and drink beer in front of the tv (and the kids!)?

Provocative question: just how difficult is it to tell your kids about the dangers of drug addiction? From an early age. Like five or six. You can start with nicotine.

Yes. That is exactly what I'm saying grannya.

Good schools do this already, as do good parents. DD3 at eleven has already a number of lessons, both at school and at home, about the dangers of recreational drug use. The problem isn't that kids are not educated about such things but that some of them are unreceptive, or even antagonisitic, to what they are told. Plus risk-taking is built into their psyche.

There's a really good course already in existence to inform and advise parents about this, you can find out more here. On the website people are asked who should educate kids about drugs and it seems that people believe it's the job of parents and teachers.
It is part of the remit of PSHE lessons and I thoroughly enjoyed teaching about drugs, but I do believe, as jingl appears to be saying, that parents seem to be abdicating more and more responsibility to schools.

How many parents know enough about drugs to advise their children about them, though?

I'm sure the teachers on GN will have opinions about this proposal.