The former minister of child, youth and family services is welcoming the concept of introducing age-appropriate drug education in the province’s primary schools.

Opposition MHA for Burin-Grand Bank Paul Pike told VOCM Open Line with Brian Callahan that the issue of drugs in the community is raised regularly at meetings of the Burin Peninsula Joint Councils.

The recommendation to introduce mandatory drug education in the early grades was made by the province’s Child Death Review Committee.

Pike says it’s something the Opposition endorses.

“To implement mandatory age-appropriate substance abuse education…that’s very important.” He likens it to the Kids in the Know program currently available in primary schools. “The level of the content of those particular programs is determined by the grade level, so I like that.”

The majority of those who responded to yesterday’s Question of the Day agree with the concept as well.