Government-funded helpline 'offers drug-taking advice'
UK MINISTERS last night launched an investigation into a government-funded helpline aimed at children and young people which was reported to have played down the dangers of cannabis in comparison to alcohol.
Advisers on the "Frank" help-line, launched in 2003 with 3million of government money, were reported to have told people as young as 13 that alcohol is a "much more powerful drug than cannabis" and that using the illegal drug recreationally is not harmful because it "doesn't get you that high".
Callers were also apparently being told that taking ecstasy would not lead to long-term damage and that if they were in doubt, to "just take half a pill and if you are handling that OK, you can take the other half."
A government spokesman said: "It is completely unacceptable for a Frank adviser to be giving wrong, misleading and inaccurate information. We are urgently looking into this and will identify the person or persons involved and take action."
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Monday 20 February 2012
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