Health Sec: Parents must take an active role in drug conversation

Parents should play an active role in making their kids aware that drug use is dangerous. They should do this by making drugs an approachable topic in the home. This is according to State Secretary Martin van Rijn of Public Health in a letter to the Tweede Kamer, lower house of parliament, RTL Nieuws reports. "It should be a topic to talk about. Just like you talk to your children to protect them from the dangers of smoking or alcohol." he writes. Van Rijn is concerned about the growing trend of drug use among young people who go out often. According to the State Secretary it has become "quite normal" fr this group to use drugs on such occasions. He calls the often high dosage of so-called recreational drugs life threatening. The State Secretary is working on a site with tips that can help parents talk to their children about the dangers of drugs. He will also be discussing how to drug use can be combated more effectively with the mayors of the four major cities. He will present his new battle plan against drugs and excessive alcohol consumption in the spring.