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Dutch schoolchildren's drug-taking doubles
Dutch schoolchildren’s drug-taking doubles schoolchildren
in the ll-18 years age-group in 1995 used far more alcohol and marihuana than did schoolchildren in the same age-group in 1990. The percentage of pupils who have ever drunk alcohol has increased from 55% to 65%, and the percentage that said they had ever used marihuana 1990more than doubled since from 7 to 17%. Girls predominate in the increase in alcohol users. No comparisons could be made for ecstasy use, because the national pupil survey in 1990 did not investigate this drug. However, of the 6699 pupils surveyed about ecstasy use, 2% are currently using the drug. These data resulted from a collaborative study by TNO (the Dutch network of research institutes), Health Leiden, and the Netherlands Institute of Mental Health in Utrecht. The results, when published on Feb 16, were met with mixed reactions from politicians, educators,
Dutch
and municipal health organisations. The first two groups said that they were "astounded" by the results-the municipal health workers kept their
Drug companies
can
the Feb 14 to the the 1989 "Television Without Frontiers" directive brings good news. The prohibition on sponsorship, by companies and groups whose principal activity is the manufacture or sale of prescription-only drugs, of television programmes is to be dropped. Consequently, the uncomfortable bracketing of pharmaceutical companies with tobacco manufacturers in the 1989 directive will be no more. The bad news is that Brussels reckons the reform will make no impact in practice. In effect, Brussels has calculated that no matter how many millions the public relations on
of pharmaceutical departments giants may spend on massaging cor-
porate egos, the viewers do not make a connection between product name and that of its producer. Moreover, the directive’s general rules on sponsorship would continue to prohibit the "promotion of goods or services supplied by the sponsor". The amending directive also takes a fresh look at drugs advertising and sponsorship. On advertising, things
534
schoolchild had used However, in the next few years, use increased heavily, with a peak in the 16 and 17 year old group. In addition, there was a trend for more young users becoming long-term users. 9% of 1990’s users still use marihuana; in 1990, only 2% of the cohort of 5 years ago still used the drug. The researchers think that girls try marihuana once, but do not continue, whereas in boys both percentages (ever used and still using) are much higher. In the media, several "authorities" on drug use have been feeding the - discussion on whether marihuana is affecting pupils’ concentration at school. The minister of education has asked for more information. almost no marihuana.
Marjanke Spanjer
broadcast
pharmaceutical companies For amendment, by European Parliament, voted in
low-key, since they are involved formulating the liberal national drugs policy that the government is currently trying to "sell" to other European countries. The TNO researchers, T Vogels, E Brugman, and G van Zessen, noted that between the ages of 11 and 13, comments very
across
European public-health programmes go ahead uropean Union Social Affairs N. Padraig Flynn has welcomed as "a landmark in the development of a EU health policy" a vote in the European Parliament to endorse three, 5-year public health action programmes. By invoking "co-decision" powers, the Strasbourg assembly had succeeded in restoring budget cuts sought by EU member state govin the programmes, ernments which cover activities in public health and training, cancer, and AIDS.The of the proscope was also extended to grammes include activities politically sensitive in some member states, such as
ECommissioner
needle-exchange programmes, promoting use of condoms, and studies into links between poverty and illhealth.Flynn pointed out, however, that even at their restored level of Ecu 148-6 (about$190 million), the funds allocated to the programmes would have to be spread very thinly across the 15 EU member states over the programmes’ 5-year duration. 0
Europe
are less straightforward, partly because of new broadcasting practices such as "teleshopping". The Commission wants simply to bring this form of sales promotion within the ambit of the existing ban on "television advertising for medicinal products and medical treatment available only on prescription in the member state within whose jurisdiction the broadcaster falls". However, this formulation pleases neither the parliament nor German pharmaceutical interests, reportedly nervous about cross-frontier marketing promotions beamed from countries in which a wider selection of preparations is available over the counter, notably the UK, but also neighbouring Denmark and the Netherlands. The parliament has suggested an amendment that would impose an EU-wide prohibition on all teleshopping for medicinal products and medical treatments, whether overthe-counter or prescription-only. As for straight advertising, Strasbourg argues for an extension to the existing prohibition on advertising when a product is restricted to sale on prescription in that state
"within whose jurisdiction the broadcaster falls". Parliamentarians say that would create a loophole if, say, a manufacturer of vitamin preparations (over-the-counter in Britain, but prescription-only in Germany) were to beam satellite television advertisements capable of being received in Germany. The test would be whether the advertisements were "clearly directed" at the foreign market "in terms of language and/or price". Commissioner Marcelino Oreja, who is responsible for broadcasting policy,does not favour these changes, largely on grounds that they would create problems of jurisdiction. However, thanks to the "codecision" procedure under which the broadcasting reforms are being handled, the parliament will have a chance to re-table the amendments at second reading. With sufficient backing for the amendments at that stage, the assembly could demand face-to-face negotiations with the Council of Ministers, which represents EU member state governments.
Arthur Rogers
in the ll-18 years age-group in 1995 used far more alcohol and marihuana than did schoolchildren in the same age-group in 1990. The percentage of pupils who have ever drunk alcohol has increased from 55% to 65%, and the percentage that said they had ever used marihuana 1990more than doubled since from 7 to 17%. Girls predominate in the increase in alcohol users. No comparisons could be made for ecstasy use, because the national pupil survey in 1990 did not investigate this drug. However, of the 6699 pupils surveyed about ecstasy use, 2% are currently using the drug. These data resulted from a collaborative study by TNO (the Dutch network of research institutes), Health Leiden, and the Netherlands Institute of Mental Health in Utrecht. The results, when published on Feb 16, were met with mixed reactions from politicians, educators,
Dutch
and municipal health organisations. The first two groups said that they were "astounded" by the results-the municipal health workers kept their
Drug companies
can
the Feb 14 to the the 1989 "Television Without Frontiers" directive brings good news. The prohibition on sponsorship, by companies and groups whose principal activity is the manufacture or sale of prescription-only drugs, of television programmes is to be dropped. Consequently, the uncomfortable bracketing of pharmaceutical companies with tobacco manufacturers in the 1989 directive will be no more. The bad news is that Brussels reckons the reform will make no impact in practice. In effect, Brussels has calculated that no matter how many millions the public relations on
of pharmaceutical departments giants may spend on massaging cor-
porate egos, the viewers do not make a connection between product name and that of its producer. Moreover, the directive’s general rules on sponsorship would continue to prohibit the "promotion of goods or services supplied by the sponsor". The amending directive also takes a fresh look at drugs advertising and sponsorship. On advertising, things
534
schoolchild had used However, in the next few years, use increased heavily, with a peak in the 16 and 17 year old group. In addition, there was a trend for more young users becoming long-term users. 9% of 1990’s users still use marihuana; in 1990, only 2% of the cohort of 5 years ago still used the drug. The researchers think that girls try marihuana once, but do not continue, whereas in boys both percentages (ever used and still using) are much higher. In the media, several "authorities" on drug use have been feeding the - discussion on whether marihuana is affecting pupils’ concentration at school. The minister of education has asked for more information. almost no marihuana.
Marjanke Spanjer
broadcast
pharmaceutical companies For amendment, by European Parliament, voted in
low-key, since they are involved formulating the liberal national drugs policy that the government is currently trying to "sell" to other European countries. The TNO researchers, T Vogels, E Brugman, and G van Zessen, noted that between the ages of 11 and 13, comments very
across
European public-health programmes go ahead uropean Union Social Affairs N. Padraig Flynn has welcomed as "a landmark in the development of a EU health policy" a vote in the European Parliament to endorse three, 5-year public health action programmes. By invoking "co-decision" powers, the Strasbourg assembly had succeeded in restoring budget cuts sought by EU member state govin the programmes, ernments which cover activities in public health and training, cancer, and AIDS.The of the proscope was also extended to grammes include activities politically sensitive in some member states, such as
ECommissioner
needle-exchange programmes, promoting use of condoms, and studies into links between poverty and illhealth.Flynn pointed out, however, that even at their restored level of Ecu 148-6 (about$190 million), the funds allocated to the programmes would have to be spread very thinly across the 15 EU member states over the programmes’ 5-year duration. 0
Europe
are less straightforward, partly because of new broadcasting practices such as "teleshopping". The Commission wants simply to bring this form of sales promotion within the ambit of the existing ban on "television advertising for medicinal products and medical treatment available only on prescription in the member state within whose jurisdiction the broadcaster falls". However, this formulation pleases neither the parliament nor German pharmaceutical interests, reportedly nervous about cross-frontier marketing promotions beamed from countries in which a wider selection of preparations is available over the counter, notably the UK, but also neighbouring Denmark and the Netherlands. The parliament has suggested an amendment that would impose an EU-wide prohibition on all teleshopping for medicinal products and medical treatments, whether overthe-counter or prescription-only. As for straight advertising, Strasbourg argues for an extension to the existing prohibition on advertising when a product is restricted to sale on prescription in that state
"within whose jurisdiction the broadcaster falls". Parliamentarians say that would create a loophole if, say, a manufacturer of vitamin preparations (over-the-counter in Britain, but prescription-only in Germany) were to beam satellite television advertisements capable of being received in Germany. The test would be whether the advertisements were "clearly directed" at the foreign market "in terms of language and/or price". Commissioner Marcelino Oreja, who is responsible for broadcasting policy,does not favour these changes, largely on grounds that they would create problems of jurisdiction. However, thanks to the "codecision" procedure under which the broadcasting reforms are being handled, the parliament will have a chance to re-table the amendments at second reading. With sufficient backing for the amendments at that stage, the assembly could demand face-to-face negotiations with the Council of Ministers, which represents EU member state governments.
Arthur Rogers