The following key points and statistics highlight the essence of the misunderstanding and the magnitude of the problem of drug abuse within our society.

	In 2003 13% of pupils aged 11-15 had used drugs, 4% had used class ‘A’ drugs
	31% of 15 year olds had misused drugs
	A staggering 66% had been offered drugs
	There is probably no other problem which has such a profound impact on so many different aspects of society and involves so many different backgrounds
	How can the misuse of drugs produce such a dramatic change in a person's behaviour (i.e. when they become addicted and sometimes exhibit chaotic behaviour)
	The financial cost of substance misuse in the U.K is at least £20 BILLION per annum. The social cost is immeasurable
	The term drug-taker is used as a condemnation, as a ways of identifying someone who is involved in a strange and deviant form of behaviour
	There is a continuing reluctance to face up to the fact that.... DRUGS AND DRUG TAKERS ARE PART OF OUR EVERYDAY LIFE