Objective 1: To eradicate drug abuse by young people by continuing to educate especially lower and upper secondary school students about the hazards of drug abuse and further improving education for young people who are not in school

In order to prevent drug abuse by young people, it is necessary to aim for a society that prevents them from initiating drug use by raising their awareness through positive educational activities at schools and in communities. It is also necessary to halt the spread of drug abuse by establishing systems to find and guide juvenile drug abusers, etc. at an early stage.

According to the "Survey on the Awareness of Drugs, etc. among Students" (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) conducted in FY 2000, the number of students who answered that they had learned about drugs in "school lessons" increased in comparison with a survey in FY 1997, and they tend to increase their recognition of the harmful effects and hazards of drugs, showing a tendency of general improvement in drug awareness among students. In addition, the number of juveniles arrested for stimulant drug-related offenses is on the decrease, indicating that a certain brake was applied to drug abuse by students.

However, the number of young people, especially lower and upper secondary school students, arrested for stimulant drug-related offenses is still at a high level. This means that the situation of drug abuse is extremely serious and disturbing. As for the availability of marijuana and stimulant drugs, according to the "National Survey on the Awareness and Actual Conditions of Drug Abuse among Junior High School Students" (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), the rate of those who answered "Easily available" or "Manage to obtain with slight difficulties" increased. As these have made clear, the social environment, including the availability of drugs, has not improved, and the environment surrounding young people with respect to drugs is still dire.

In light of these conditions, the related organizations must cooperate to further promote education for the prevention of drug abuse. In doing so, the holding of drug abuse prevention classes at schools will continue to be promoted since past measures for students are recognized as having had a definite effect. In addition, it is also necessary to increase effective training opportunities for teachers and to further improve teaching materials for students, guidance materials for teachers, etc. from the viewpoint of providing effective guidance.

Moreover, it is necessary to improve education for juveniles other than students (juveniles in and out of employment) who account for most of the juveniles arrested for stimulant drug-related offenses. Furthermore, it is also necessary to promote preventive education at the community level by increasing opportunities for education on drug abuse prevention not only at schools but also in the community, including the home.

As for publicity and educational activities, although the entire government has been promoting diversified activities through various media, it must make further efforts to improve publicity and educational activities while considering the most effective publicity means for increasing the public's understanding of drug abuse prevention, etc.

In addition to improving these educational activities, it is important to find at an early stage juveniles who possess drugs or are likely to be involved in drug-related offenses, in order to prevent drug abuse by young people. Therefore, every effort must be made to find and give early guidance to juveniles who abuse or are likely to abuse drugs. These efforts include consultation services, on-the-spot guidance and control over welfare criminals. In doing so, the consulting system must be improved with the active utilization of consulting organizations by providing information about consultation services, in order to offer accurate consultation to the need of local residents.

Furthermore, measures to prevent young people from relapsing into drug abuse are required. It is thus necessary to promote surveys and studies on more effective techniques to deal with drug-related criminals in order to contribute to rehabilitating juveniles on probation who are deeply dependent on drugs (there are still many such juveniles).

The following measures will be taken from these viewpoints. However, since there are concerns about the spreading abuse of new drugs, such as marijuana and MDMA, cooperation with related organizations and bodies shall be further strengthened to prevent that.

(Index) Methods of Having Learned about Drugs (Students) < See Objective 1(1) >

(Index) Idea of Drug Abuse (Students) < See Objective 1(1) >

(Index) Effect of Drug Abuse (Students) < See Objective 1(1) >

(Index) Impression of Drugs (Students) < See Objective 1(1) >

(Index) Number of Juveniles Arrested for Stimulant Drug-Related Offenses

(person)

		1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
Total		1,601	1,079	1,003	1,148	954	749
	Lower secondary school students	43	39	24	54	45	44
	Upper secondary school students	219	103	81	105	83	66

Sources: National Police Agency, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, and Japan Coast Guard

(Index) Number of Juveniles Arrested for Offenses Related to Thinner, etc.

(person)

		1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
Total		4,157	4,496	4,184	3,417	3,071	2,751
	Lower secondary school students	464	609	570	462	407	351
	Upper secondary school students	618	759	759	624	535	458

Source: National Police Agency

(Index) Number of Juveniles Arrested for Marijuana-Related Offenses

(person)

		1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
Total		120	127	127	105	188	192
	Lower secondary school students	1	2	0	6	4	4
	Upper secondary school students	27	27	32	22	44	34

Sources: National Police Agency, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, and Japan Coast Guard

(Index) Availability of Methamphetamine [Lower Secondary School Students]

(%)

	Boys			Girls
	1998	2000	2002	1998	2000	2002
Easily available	8.9	8.9	10.2	6.8	7.8	9.7
Manage to obtain with slight difficulties	15.1	15.5	14.8	15.8	17.7	18
Almost impossible	22.3	21.8	19.9	21	20.5	19.3
Absolutely impossible	50.8	51.8	53.1	53.9	51.9	50.9
No answer	2.8	2	2	2.4	2.1	2.1

Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, "National Survey on the Awareness and Actual Conditions of Drug Abuse among Junior High School Students"

(Index) Rate of Lower Secondary School Students Who Have Used Stimulant Drugs/Marijuana

(%)

	1998	2000	2002
Stimulant drugs	0.51	0.39	0.44
Marijuana	0.68	0.44	0.52
Any one of them	0.8	0.57	0.65

Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, "National Survey on the Awareness and Actual Conditions of Drug Abuse among Junior High School Students"

(Index) Number of Juveniles In/Out of Employment Arrested for Stimulant Drug-Related Offenses < See Objective 1(2) >

(Index) Recidivism Rate of Juveniles Who Have Committed Stimulant Drug-Related Offenses on Probation < See Objective 1(7) >

(1) Improving guidance on drug abuse prevention at schools, etc.

It is extremely important for school education to develop basic quality, capacity and practical ability so that students can make the right decisions based on accurate thoughts and judgments (without being affected by the temptation of drug abuse), manage their own health, choose a healthy lifestyle and create a sound social environment.

Therefore, schools have provided guidance on drug abuse prevention through the overall educational activities, mainly in "physical education," "health and physical education," "moral education" and "special activities," according to the development stage of the students and from the viewpoint of cultivating a basis for preserving and promoting personal health.

In addition, there has been an aim to hold drug abuse prevention classes at least once a year at all lower and upper secondary schools, and elementary schools have been instructed to hold drug abuse prevention classes depending on the local circumstances. Such classes have been improved with the cooperation of police officials, former narcotics agents, school pharmacists, etc.

Moreover, teaching materials for students and guidance materials for teachers have been prepared and distributed to allow students to acquire accurate knowledge about the harmful effects and hazards of drugs.

Regarding students' awareness of drugs in recent years, the rate of those who answered "school classes" as their source of information about drug abuse and its health effects have increased due to these efforts, and an accurate knowledge about drug abuse prevention has been diffused and taught. These indicate that a certain brake was applied to drug abuse by students.

However, the number of young people, especially lower and upper secondary school students, arrested for stimulant drug-related offenses is still at a high level, and the situation leaves no room for optimism. As far as drugs are concerned, the environment surrounding young people is still dire.

In light of these situations, it is necessary to improve guidance on drug abuse prevention through overall school education, using activities to learn about cross-sectional/comprehensive issues related to "health" (indicated as examples of "period of integrated study"), as well as guidance in "physical education," "health and physical education," "moral education" and "special activities" classes. It is also necessary to further utilize the functions of students guidance, such as educational counseling. Moreover, it is necessary to continue to promote drug abuse prevention classes at schools and make efforts to further improve drug abuse prevention education through cooperation among related organizations. In addition, it is important to increase effective training opportunities for teachers and the instructors of drug abuse prevention classes by improving seminars held by the national and prefectural governments; it is also important to improve teaching materials for students and guidance materials for teachers to make it easier for students to accurately understand the harmful effects and hazards of drugs through guidance. For these teaching materials and other materials, efforts must be made to keep relevant parties informed of them for enhanced use and to improve cooperation with related organizations in using them.

In addition, each board of education will strengthen and improve its support system for schools and request that the PTA and other related bodies play an active role, so that families and local communities can jointly enrich schools' efforts.

• To provide guidance through overall school education by using activities to learn about cross-sectional/comprehensive issues related to "health," which are indicated as examples of "period of integrated study," as well as guidance in "physical education," "health and physical education," "moral education" and "special activities" classes in order to improve drug abuse prevention education for students at schools. (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)
• To make efforts to hold drug abuse prevention classes at least once a year at all lower and upper secondary schools, and also try to hold drug abuse prevention classes at elementary schools depending on the local circumstances, as well as further improve guidance on drug abuse prevention with the cooperation of police officials, former narcotics agents, school pharmacists, etc. (National Police Agency, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
• To prepare and distribute teaching materials for students and guidance materials for teachers about drug abuse prevention to allow students to acquire accurate knowledge. (National Police Agency, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
• To make efforts to keep relevant parties informed of distributed teaching materials and other materials for enhancing the use of such materials, and try to improve cooperation with the related organizations in using these materials. (National Police Agency, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
• To increase effective training opportunities for teachers and the instructors of drug abuse prevention classes by improving seminars held by the national and prefectural governments, for the purpose of improving guidance for effective practice. (National Police Agency, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
• To regularly conduct surveys and analyses with respect to the establishment of awareness of drugs and the actual conditions of drug abuse among students, etc. (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
• To provide information about the actual conditions of drug abuse by juveniles and the harmful effects and hazards of drugs, through school-police liaison councils and other opportunities, and further strengthen cooperation with school officials and other related persons, for example, by requesting that they promptly report drug abuse whenever found. (National Police Agency, and Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)
• To help police officials in charge of juveniles improve their knowledge on drug abuse and their ability to give guidance on it through seminars, etc. (National Police Agency)

(Index) Status of Holding Drug Abuse Prevention Classes (FY 2001)

Type of school	No. of schools holding (Rate of holding)	Total No. of classes held	No. of participants
Elementary schools	4,554 (19.47%)	5,234	434,531
Lower secondary schools	5,945 (53.76%)	6,788	1,619,637
Upper secondary schools	3,612 (64.80%)	4,046	1,876,238
Secondary schools	1 (100.0%)	2	236
Total	14,112	16,070	3,930,642

Source: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

(Index) Methods of Having Learned about Drugs (multiple answers)

(%)

Boys	Students in 6th grade of elementary school		Students in 3rd grade of lower secondary school		Students in 3rd grade of upper secondary school		Total of students in 5th grade of elementary school to 3rd grade of upper secondary school
	1997	2000	1997	2000	1997	2000	1997	2000
School class	19.3	38.6	57.4	77.1	81.6	88.7	60	72.8
Friend, fellow, senior or junior	6.1	6.9	9.9	11.8	14.1	16.7	9.8	11.8
Family	35.7	29.5	15.4	14.2	8.4	11.5	17.2	17
Poster or brochure	7.4	12	18.7	23.2	17.3	24.1	15.4	20.2
Book or magazine	22.7	20.8	29	28.5	34.5	34.9	27.4	26.5
Newspaper	28.8	28.6	28.6	25.9	28.7	27.4	26.7	25.6
TV	75.8	76.1	67.9	68.8	59.7	65.9	63.8	67
Radio	6.7	7	4.1	5	3.4	5.1	4.6	5.3
Internet	-	1.7	-	2.3	-	2.5	-	2.3
CD-ROM	-	0.2	-	0.6	-	0.5	-	0.5
Other	4.5	3.4	5.7	3.9	3.6	3.8	4.5	3.6

Girls	Students in 6th grade of elementary school		Students in 3rd grade of lower secondary school		Students in 3rd grade of upper secondary school		Total of students in 5th grade of elementary school to 3rd grade of upper secondary school
	1997	2000	1997	2000	1997	2000	1997	2000
School class	21	38.9	62.1	78.9	89.6	93.4	67.1	74.4
Friend, fellow, senior or junior	4.9	7.2	8.1	10.4	8.2	9.6	7	9.3
Family	38.9	33.6	19.4	16.1	8.2	9.9	19.1	18.5
Poster or brochure	7.6	13	20	25	15.6	25.8	15.7	21.5
Book or magazine	18.3	23.1	22.9	28.3	21.4	25.7	19.5	24.5
Newspaper	23.8	25.2	22.7	18.9	20.4	19.9	20.8	19.7
TV	75	73.3	63.6	65.7	55	63.4	60.5	65
Radio	5.4	5.1	2.1	2.7	1.2	2.5	2.5	3.3
Internet	-	1.1	-	0.9	-	0.6	-	0.9
CD-ROM	-	0.1	-	0.2	-	0.1	-	0.2
Other	3.6	3	4	2.4	2.1	2.4	2.8	2.6

Source: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, "Survey Report on Awareness of Drugs"

(Index) Idea of Drug Abuse

(%)

Boys	Students in 6th grade of elementary school		Students in 3rd grade of lower secondary school		Students in 3rd grade of upper secondary school		Total of students in 5th grade of elementary school to 3rd grade of upper secondary school
	1997	2000	1997	2000	1997	2000	1997	2000
Should never use or be allowed to use drugs	89.5	89.2	77.9	82.5	68.6	74.5	78.8	82.2
Do not mind trying once since single use does not harm mind and body	1.7	0.8	3.1	1.1	4.5	1.2	2.9	1.2
Individuals are free to use drugs since the use does not affect others.	3.6	4.1	11	9.2	15.7	13	9.9	8.6
Other	4.5	4.2	6.6	6.3	9.5	10.6	6.9	7.1

Girls	Students in 6th grade of elementary school		Students in 3rd grade of lower secondary school		Students in 3rd grade of upper secondary school		Total of students in 5th grade of elementary school to 3rd grade of upper secondary school
	1997	2000	1997	2000	1997	2000	1997	2000
Should never use or be allowed to use drugs	92.4	91.9	85	85.9	81.4	87.2	86	87.4
Do not mind trying once since single use does not harm mind and body	1.1	0.6	2	0.9	2.8	0.6	2	0.8
Individuals are free to use drugs since the use does not affect others.	2.5	3.4	6.8	7.9	8.6	7	6	6.3
Other	3.6	3	4.8	4.9	6	4.8	5	4.9

Source: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, "Survey Report on Awareness of Drugs"

(Index) Impression of Drugs (multiple answers)

(%)

Boys		Students in 6th grade of elementary school		Students in 3rd grade of lower secondary school		Students in 3rd grade of upper secondary school		Total of students in 5th grade of elementary school to 3rd grade of upper secondary school
		1997	2000	1997	2000	1997	2000	1997	2000
Cool		0.7	0.7	2.2	1.3	2.5	1.3	1.8	1.1
Make people feel good		7.7	6.3	20.8	11.7	25.8	17	17	11.1
Effective for losing weight and shaking off sleepiness		1.5	-	3	-	4.9	-	3	-
	Effective for losing weight	-	1.7	-	2.8	-	2.6	-	2.2
	Effective for shaking off sleepiness	-	1.7	-	2.1	-	3	-	2.2
Using drugs once does not harm mind and body		1.5	1.8	3	2.3	4.6	3	2.7	2.3
Fray mind and body		58	73.3	73.2	71	73.7	67.8	66.3	69.9
Lead to involvement in crimes		58.1	65	56.3	59	52.1	57.2	53.7	59.4
Using or having drugs is wrong		80.3	78.3	66	65.3	54.7	55.6	65.9	65.2
Become addicted if using drugs even once		41.4	61.9	67.6	74.6	66	73.1	57.7	69.4
Nothing special		9.2	7.3	8.9	8.4	9.8	9.4	10.4	8.8

Girls		Students in 6th grade of elementary school		Students in 3rd grade of lower secondary school		Students in 3rd grade of upper secondary school		Total of students in 5th grade of elementary school to 3rd grade of upper secondary school
		1997	2000	1997	2000	1997	2000	1997	2000
Cool		0.3	0.4	0.8	0.8	0.6	0.6	0.8	0.6
Make people feel good		5.5	5.6	15.8	12.3	17.2	12.2	12.4	10.2
Effective for losing weight and shaking off sleepiness		1.9	-	7.5	-	9.2	-	5.7	-
	Effective for losing weight	-	2.5	-	8.1	-	8.5	-	6.3
	Effective for shaking off sleepiness	-	1.4	-	3.1	-	2.7	-	2.5
Using drugs once does not harm mind and body		1.3	1.5	2.2	2.6	2.2	1.7	1.8	2.1
Fray mind and body		61.5	81.5	81.6	78.6	84	80.4	74.4	78.7
Lead to involvement in crimes		55.6	67.2	57.4	60.8	58.2	61.4	55.1	61.9
Using or having drugs is wrong		86.4	83.7	78.3	71.9	71.5	70.7	77.4	73.6
Become addicted if using drugs even once		40.5	64.2	72.6	83.1	75.3	84.7	61.9	77
Nothing special		6.4	4.1	4.5	4	3.8	3.1	6	4.4

Source: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, "Survey Report on Awareness of Drugs"

(Index) Effects of Drug Use (multiple answers)

(%)

Boys	Students in 6th grade of elementary school		Students in 3rd grade of lower secondary school		Students in 3rd grade of upper secondary school		Total of students in 5th grade of elementary school to 3rd grade of upper secondary school
	1997	2000	1997	2000	1997	2000	1997	2000
Acute intoxication	42.3	53.3	53.3	62.3	56.4	70.9	48.6	61.2
Death by acute intoxication	29.1	32.1	23.2	27.3	28	33.8	26	30.9
Dependence (psychological/physical)	58.5	73.1	75.6	82.5	84.6	87.1	70.7	79.3
Withdrawal symptoms	42.9	51.6	66.3	67.4	77.2	77.6	59.9	64.8
Chronic physical intoxication	53.8	60.3	64.4	67.8	71.5	72.2	61.4	65.9
Chronic psychological intoxication	55.4	53	73.8	74.1	78.4	80.3	67.4	68.9
Flashback	26.2	44.8	50.7	67.5	68	78.6	46.7	62.8
Didn't know anything	16.7	9.7	5.8	6	3.2	4.2	9.6	7.3

Girls	Students in 6th grade of elementary school		Students in 3rd grade of lower secondary school		Students in 3rd grade of upper secondary school		Total of students in 5th grade of elementary school to 3rd grade of upper secondary school
	1997	2000	1997	2000	1997	2000	1997	2000
Acute intoxication	44.9	56.2	56.3	69.1	55.6	73	50.8	65.6
Death by acute intoxication	27.6	32.1	16.7	22.1	21.5	26	21.7	26.5
Dependence (Psychological/physical)	64.8	78	84.5	90.6	90.8	94	78	86.2
Withdrawal symptoms	40.3	53.7	65.4	72.6	78.4	81.8	60.1	69
Chronic physical intoxication	55	65	67.2	69.3	72	71.9	63.5	67.9
Chronic psychological intoxication	57.3	60.1	76.3	79.5	80.7	83.9	70	74
Flashback	24.3	45.5	46.8	70	64.3	80.3	44.7	65.3
Didn't know anything	13.8	6.9	3.1	2.1	1.3	1.2	7.1	4

Source: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, "Survey Report on Awareness of Drugs"

(2) Ensuring educational opportunities for juveniles in/out of employment

In terms of drug abuse prevention education for young people, it is, of course, important to provide education from an early stage before they are tainted with drug abuse. Preventive education for students has been promoted mainly by schools. However, looking at the number of juveniles arrested for stimulant drug-related offenses, juveniles in/out of employment (who are not in school) account for more than 80% of the arrested juveniles. Therefore, it is important to further promote preventive educational activities for them.

For this purpose, the distribution of educational materials and other effective educational activities will be conducted for juveniles in/out of employment (who are not in school) to give them accurate knowledge about the dangers of drug abuse and convince them to never abuse drugs.

• To improve educational guidance to juveniles in/out of employment provided by labor-related organizations, juvenile labor-related bodies, etc. (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
• To continue to provide drug abuse prevention education to juveniles placed into the Homes for Juvenile Training and Education. (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
• To provide juveniles in/out of employment with better drug abuse prevention education through all opportunities. (National Police Agency)

(Index) Number of Juveniles In/Out of Employment Arrested for Stimulant Drug-Related Offenses

(person)

		1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
No. of arrested juveniles		1,596	1,070	996	1,137	946	745
	In employment	543	325	303	318	261	215
	Out of employment	743	569	560	631	538	401

Source: National Police Agency

(3) Improving guidance on drug abuse prevention in communities

In terms of drug abuse prevention education for young people, it is important that not only schools but also local communities, including families, try to provide and improve opportunities for such education and that the society as a whole create an environment that does not allow drug abuse.

Various measures for regional educational activities have been taken. Specifically, measures to provide and improve educational opportunities have been taken, such as the various educational activities by about 20,000 drug abuse prevention instructors nationwide, as well as the offering of courses on drug abuse prevention and the provision of consultation services for local residents at health centers, etc. Moreover, juvenile classification homes have recommended effective measures to deal with drug abuse-related delinquencies, which were presented in the status reports of drug abuse prevention education by juvenile training schools or by other consulting organizations, through drug abuse prevention-related conferences held by each prefecture. Although these activities are considered to have achieved certain results, the environment surrounding young people still continues to be severe where drugs are concerned, as mentioned above. Therefore, it has become more important to provide detailed education in the immediate environment, such as communities and families.

• To improve the quality of drug abuse prevention instructors by holding seminars and using CD-ROMs and other materials. (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
• To hold community dialogue meetings about drug abuse prevention for young people and their parents and guardians. (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
• To improve drug abuse prevention education for young people at home by preparing and distributing educational readings for their parents and guardians. (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
• To provide drug abuse prevention-related education to juveniles and their parents and guardians through symposiums, street campaigns, etc. (National Police Agency)

(4) Fostering the idea of eradicating drugs through publicity and educational activities

In order to prevent the spread of drug abuse among young people, it is essential not only to raise their moral awareness but also to gain the understanding and cooperation of the community around them. Therefore, there has been an aim to foster the idea of eradicating drugs among the people by promoting publicity and educational activities through diversified media with the cooperation of relevant parties. The media used include television, newspapers, magazines, the Internet, and large-screen displays at stadiums and on the streets.

The promotion of publicity and educational activities by using diversified media not only improves young people's awareness of drugs and fosters public awareness of drug abuse prevention but is also effective in promoting positive efforts for drug abuse prevention education in each community. Therefore, it is necessary to make efforts to further improve publicity and educational activities while considering effective publicity to increase public understanding of drug abuse prevention, etc.

• To further promote publicity and educational activities for drug abuse prevention. (Cabinet Office, National Police Agency, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
• To more actively develop publicity and education for young people and persons engaged in fostering them about the hazards of drug abuse and guidance methods for drug abuse prevention through the following opportunities: " 'No, Absolutely No!' Campaign" (June 20-July 19) conducted as a support project for the "United Nations Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction," "Campaign to Eradicate Illegal Marijuana and Poppy" (May-June), "Special Campaign Period for Preventing Drug Abuse" (June-July), "National Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Month" (July), "Movement toward a Brighter Society" (July), "Narcotics and Stimulant Drug Danger Extermination Months" (October-November), "National Sound Growth of Juveniles Month" (November). (Cabinet Office, National Police Agency, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
• To disseminate accurate knowledge about drug abuse prevention with the effective use of "Drug Abuse Prevention PR Cars" and "Drug Abuse Prevention Caravan Cars." (Cabinet Office, National Police Agency, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)

(5) Establishing consulting systems by related organizations, etc.

In order to prevent drug abuse, it is necessary for there to be available persons and facilities with which anyone including young people and their families can casually consult about any problems, anywhere and at any time when young people encounter drug abuse problems. It is also important that related organizations, etc. establish the consulting systems since some cases require more specialized knowledge and experience than that in school guidance.

In the past, various measures have been promoted to inform the general public of consultation services and to appropriately improve the consulting systems. Example measures are the expansion of consultation services at mental health and welfare centers, various activities by drug abuse prevention instructors, the holding of liaison conferences with the participation of school officials and responsible persons at consulting organizations that are run by the national and local governments, the implementation of practical surveys and studies, and the provision of consultation services as "public counseling service" at juvenile classification homes. These measures largely increased the number of drug-related consultations and achieved certain effects in terms of measures to prevent drug abuse by young people. In some cases, related organizations started giving continuous guidance and advice to juvenile drug abusers in cooperation in the wake of juvenile consultation services, and effects have thus been achieved.

However, as it is clear in the fact that the number of consultations largely increased with the start of new consultation services at mental health and welfare centers, there seems to be high potential for demand for consultation services among local residents. Therefore, it is necessary to continue to inform people of consultation services and improve the consulting systems through training for drug abuse prevention instructors and other staff for the purpose of offering accurate consultations to local residents.

In doing so, it is effective that schools, families and communities promote measures to prevent drug abuse by young people in cooperation, so related organizations, etc. must further strengthen their cooperation.

• To further strengthen cooperation among consulting organizations so that the best actions can be taken for young people. (Cabinet Office, National Police Agency, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
• To make active use of consulting organizations by informing people of consultation services. (Cabinet Office, National Police Agency, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
• To improve the quality of expert juvenile advisors and other staff who have expertise in psychology or other matters through seminars and other opportunities. (Cabinet Office, National Police Agency, Ministry of Justice, and Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
• To develop the findings of juvenile consultations into criminal cases at an early date, and provide continuous guidance and advice to juvenile drug abusers in cooperation with related organizations. (National Police Agency)

(6) Strengthening the on-the-spot guidance system and establishing a cooperation system therefor

In order to prevent drug abuse by juveniles, it is necessary to find at an early stage juveniles who possess drugs or are likely to be involved in drug abuse-related offenses, and provide them with guidance. For this purpose, it is important to strengthen on-the-spot guidance activities as well as to establish a cooperation system in collaboration with related bodies, etc.

So far, efforts have been made to find at an early stage juvenile drug abusers by strengthening on-the-spot guidance activities around downtown areas, stations and other places where juveniles are likely to abuse such drugs as thinner, and by enforcing control over welfare criminals related to telephone dating clubs and dating clubs that provide opportunities for female juveniles to obtain stimulant drugs and other drugs. Moreover, relevant parties' knowledge has been improved by providing information about the actual conditions of drug abuse by juveniles and the harmful effects and hazards of drugs through school-police liaison councils and seminars for police volunteers for juveniles. On-the-spot guidance activities have been implemented in cooperation with these bodies, etc. by requesting that relevant parties cooperate in the early finding of and guidance to juvenile drug abusers.

As a result of these various measures, the number of juveniles arrested for stimulant drug abuse is on the decrease after its peak in 1997. The number of juveniles arrested for abusing thinner or other organic solvents is also on a declining trend. These facts indicate that a certain brake has been applied to drug abuse by juveniles. However, the number of juveniles arrested for stimulant drug-related offenses remains at a high level, not allowing for optimism.

In the future, it will be necessary to further strengthen on-the-spot guidance activities through efforts to find and give guidance to juvenile drug abusers at an early stage in close cooperation with related organizations and bodies. Since there are concerns about the spreading abuse of new drugs, including marijuana and MDMA, it is also important to tighten the guard against such a spread.

• To further strengthen on-the-spot guidance activities in cooperation with related organizations and bodies in order to find and guide juvenile drug abusers at an early stage. (National Police Agency)
• To make efforts to find at an early stage juvenile drug abusers through control over welfare criminals related to telephone dating clubs or dating clubs that provide opportunities for female juveniles to obtain stimulant drugs and other drugs. (National Police Agency)
• To strengthen control over foreign illicit dealers and others who supply juveniles with drugs. (National Police Agency, and Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
• To request that the managers of penny arcades, karaoke boxes and other establishments where juveniles are likely to gather, give active cooperation, such as reporting to the police whenever they find juvenile drug abusers. (National Police Agency)

(Index) Changes in the Number of Guided Juvenile Delinquents

(person)

	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
No. of guided juvenile delinquents	814,202	928,947	1,008,362	885,775	971,881	1,122,233

Source: National Police Agency

(7) Improving measures to prevent juveniles from relapsing into drug abuse

The main characteristic of drug-related offenses is a high recidivism rate. It is thus necessary to take action to treat and rehabilitate drug dependents into society and improve measures to prevent relapses into drug abuse.

Prefectural police, drug control departments, child consultation centers, medical institutions, health centers, boards of education and other related organizations have already established a cooperative relationship, and have actively provided consultation, advice and guidance to juvenile drug abusers. Probation offices have also made efforts to prevent juveniles from relapsing into drug abuse by strengthening interview guidance to juveniles on probation due to drug-related offenses by probation officers and by providing treatment focused on the problems of drug abuse, such as group treatment for subject juveniles and their parents and guardians. Furthermore, juvenile training schools have promoted "guidance on specific problems" in which guidance is given with respect to each group by focusing on common problems, and also prepared the "Drug Problem Handbook" as material for correctional institution staff in charge of guidance on drug problems to improve their guidance skills. As for follow-up services, related organizations jointly conducted juvenile counseling services and other activities at the initiative of police (Juvenile Support Center) to encourage juvenile drug abusers to break from drug use as early as possible.

These efforts have exerted a certain effect in preventing drug abuse by juveniles. However, since there are cases where juveniles relapse into drug abuse, it is necessary to promote studies on the development of guidance materials, etc. and make efforts to improve guidance and treatment skills as well as develop and improve new techniques, for the purpose of providing further effective guidance and treatment to subject juveniles to eradicate juveniles' relapse into drug abuse.

• To promote the development and implementation of more effective treatment techniques for juveniles on probation due to drug-related offenses. (Ministry of Justice)
• To promote studies on the improvement of guidance skills and techniques and the development of guidance materials so that juvenile training schools can more effectively develop "guidance on specific problems" in which guidance is given to juvenile drug abusers with respect to each group, focusing on common problems. (Ministry of Justice)
• To strengthen guidance on breaking with drugs by increasing interviews with juveniles on probation due to drug-related offenses by probation officers. (Ministry of Justice)
• To give group treatment more actively for juveniles on probation due to drug-related offenses, their parents, guardians and other relevant parties. (Ministry of Justice)
• To provide follow-up, including counseling services for juvenile drug abusers, in cooperation with related organizations to prevent juveniles from relapsing into drug abuse. (National Police Agency)
• To improve treatment for juvenile drug dependents/addicts through establishment of a medical service system, etc. (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
• To promote support for juvenile drug dependents/addicts in their rehabilitation into society by strengthening the consulting systems of health centers and mental health and welfare centers. (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
• To strengthen support for the families of juvenile drug dependents/addicts by using the activities of related organizations, such as the consultation services of health centers and the family classes of mental health and welfare centers. (Ministry of Justice, and Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)

(Index) Recidivism Rate of Juveniles Who Have Committed Stimulant Drug-Related Offenses on Probation

(person/%)

		1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
Those who completed their probation or parole		897	1,085	967	658	774	735
Recommitted a crime		100	108	95	81	100	80
	Recommitted the same type of crime	53	57	38	35	43	33
Recidivism rate		11.1	10	9.8	12.3	12.9	10.9
	Rate of those who recommitted the same type of crime	5.9	5.3	3.9	5.3	5.6	4.5

Source: Ministry of Justice
(Note) 1. "Recommitted a crime" refers to those who had been placed on probationary supervision in violation of the Stimulants Control Law and have again been imposed a criminal charge or placed on probation for recommitting a crime or delinquency while on probation.
(Note) 2. "Recommitted the same type of crime" refers to those who had been placed on probationary supervision in violation of the Stimulants Control Law and have again been imposed a criminal charge or placed on probation for violating the Stimulants Control Law while on probation.