The Police and DARE NZ acknowledge that there are a number of legal drugs in common use in New Zealand society and that there are positive and negative effects associated with the use of all these. They believe that the irresponsible use of these can lead to abuse in the form of physical harm, possible dependency or social impairment.

 Learning activities involve students developing attitudes to the use of legal drugs that reflect responsible use or non use. Although these drugs are classified as "legal", there are a number of formal laws and social mores which restrict their use. Police and DARE NZ believe that students should be aware of and respect these.

A number of drugs have been classified by New Zealand statute as illegal. Reflecting society's attitudes embodied in law, Police and DARE NZ believe that students should not use these drugs. Objectives have been set which provide students with the skills necessary to resist social and personal pressures to use illegal drugs.

Although Police are one of a number of agencies responsible to society for enforcing drug laws, their approach in this initiative is an educative one, aimed at contributing to demand reduction.

For more information, please feel free to email

Senior Constable Ian Browne