ALMOST one hundred delegates from schools, Merseyside Police and drugs prevention organisations in the borough attended a conference, entitled 'Drugs Education in St Helens: The Next Step', held at the Stakis Hotel (St Helens) - formerly the Chalon Court.

Organised by the council's Community Education and Leisure Services Department, the aim was to raise awareness of current trends in drugs misuse and the relevance of these issues to schools; to disseminate the local drugs strategy and current initiatives in the town; to explain the St Helens / Merseyside Police Drugs Charter and launch the document to schools; and to outline training and development opportunities for schools in the borough in 1996/7.

Speakers included Steven Boyes, acting director of Community, Education and Leisure Services; Ian Wardle, chief executive of Lifeline Project Ltd.; Ian Davies, assistant director of Commissioning, St Helens and Knowsley Health; Mr Westwood, director of Community Affairs of the Merseyside Police; and Chris Addison. Council chief executive Carole Hudson, who is also chair of the St Helens Drug Reference Group, gave the closing remarks.

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