A $10-million grant to the Canadian Center on Substance Abuse will support a national campaign to discourage illicit-drug use among 10- to 24-year-olds, the Canwest News Service reported Jan. 31.

Canada's new Drug Prevention Strategy for Youth (PDF) aims to reduce youth drug-use rates, delay the onset of use, reduce drug-use frequency, and cut the use of multiple substances among those who do take drugs. It is part of the conservative government's National Anti-Drug Strategy released in the fall and will include a two-year media campaign.

"This project will reach out to young people and will provide them and their parents the plain truth on the harms of illicit drug use," said Canadian Health Minister Tony Clement. "We will discourage young people from thinking there are 'safe' amounts, or 'safe' drugs. And we will highlight the fact that, for young people, having clear and unimpaired judgment is a safety issue."