Police and partners helping youngsters make the right Choices For Life

Issued by Northern Constabulary

Around 3,100 schoolchildren from both Highland and Moray will attend this year's Choices for Life event at Inverness Leisure Centre, which started today and runs until 19 May 2010.

The event is sponsored by the Scottish Crime and Drugs Enforcement Agency and is being hosted by Ginno Conti and Nikki Marr from Moray Firth Radio.

Choices for Life is aimed specifically at Primary 7 pupils across Scotland, to provide them with information about the dangers associated with drugs, alcohol and smoking. Other subjects tackled included peer pressure and bullying.

Inverness is one of four venues across Scotland, along with Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

The key messages are delivered via a number of media, including film, live drama and music. Main contributors this year include the PACE theatre group and bands Girls Can't Catch, Stevie Hoang, The Wanted and Bandito.

The event is part of a wider educational programme delivered to Primary 7 pupils which seeks to prepare them for the challenges they will face, when they step up to secondary school.

Inspector Tom Ogilvie, who is co-ordinating Northern Constabulary's involvement in the event, said, "The main focus of Choices for Life is to provide youngsters with accurate information so that they can make informed choices for themselves about how they should lead their lives.

"The whole point of the event is to get a serious message across but in an entertaining way, so that the children can relate more easily to the content.

"It's vital that they have access to credible advice and information about the risks associated with substance misuse. We're confident that the event has an important role to play in the education process - it is always well evaluated and this year, we expect around 90% of Primary 7 pupils to attend."