In the RSA Drug Commission's view, the overarching aim of such a campaign or programme should be to discourage as many people as possible from using drugs in a way that results in harm either to themselves or to others. It is unrealistic to expect that no one will choose to use drugs. Many people will choose to use them, however much information they possess. That being so, the aim should be to postpone first use for as long as possible, so that choices, when they are made, are made in full knowledge and understanding rather than in ignorance.

Everyone should be made aware, early and accurately, of the varying risks attached to the use of different drugs. Special attention should be paid to those young people who are obviously most at risk of using drugs in a harmful way, in an effort to discourage them from starting, and they should be offered support and advice and not merely formal education.

Once the risks of drug use have been made known, those who have chosen to use them should be provided with help to limit damage to themselves and others. Those who seem most liable to abuse drugs should be given the most advice and support. Those who are already abusing drugs should be encouraged to change the way in which they use them or, better still, stop using them altogether.

The emphasis in school drugs policy should be shifted. At the moment, the resources that are dedicated to universal drugs education are concentrated at Key Stages 3 and 4 in secondary schools – that is, at pupils between the ages of 11 and 15. In order to deter people from first use of drugs, more effort should be concentrated earlier, in primary school. In order to minimise the harm that people do to themselves in using drugs, more effort should be concentrated later, on the period immediately after leaving school. In general, a greater share of resources should be devoted to efforts outside school to increase knowledge and awareness of the risks that drugs can pose.