The ISPCC has unveiled a new three-pronged campaign designed to warn schoolchildren of the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.
Mr Paul Gilligan, Chief Executive of ISPCC said today the project, run in partnership with the AIB Better Ireland Programme, was needed because the traditional "Say No to Drugs"message is no longer effective.
He said effective drugs prevention needs an integrated approach that involves young people, their parents and the local community.
The first part of the project, the Natural High campaign, will provide support to children at risk of drug or alcohol abuse over the course ofsix months period. It is intended to show children positive alternatives to drugs and alcohol and improve their self-esteemand life skills.
Secondly, children at acute risk or already abusing drugs and alcohol will be allocated an ISPCC training and awareness officer to work with them in their own home and develop a programme to meet their individual needs.
And finally, community groups will be offered guidance by ISPCC training and awareness officers in best practice in working with children at risk.
Ms Shirley O'Dwyer, AIB Better Ireland Programme co-ordinator, said the campaign was intended to "give these children a sense of a future worth believing in".
It will be run through the ISPCC's eleven centres in Drogheda, Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Mayo, Monaghan, Letterkenny, Waterford, Wexford, Arklow and Mullingar.
The programme was devised following a six-month pilot at the Children's Research Centre in Trinity College Dublin.