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Plea to parents

Janice TeoMidland Kalamunda Reporter

I URGE parents to talk to their children about the dangers of the drug ice.

I have travelled the length and breadth Australia holding community consultations on this drug, hearing from mums and dads, health care workers, police and the people caught in the clutches of this drug.

Recently, the Prime Minister and I received independent research on the effectiveness of the Federal Coalition Government’s TV and social media advertising campaign and it reinforced something very important: parents are a huge influence on children’s attitudes to drugs such as ice.

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It reported 61 per cent of youth said discussions with parents were a “‘big influence” on their thinking about drugs.

I have two sons and I know that as parents, we cannot control everything. Nevertheless, we do get the chance to have important conversations with our children to help convince them never to try this addictive drug.

We are still by far the biggest influence in our children’s lives.

The research shows the ice adverts have been extremely effective – 51 per cent of “at risk” youth who saw the adverts now saying they will avoid ice.

We have launched the second round of our advertising campaign, but we need parents also to get involved to so help their children say no to ice.

SENATOR FIONA NASH,

Assistant Minister for Health