A SPECIAL guide featuring factual details about drugs is being distributed to secondary schools throughout Bury.

Following high demand from the public and police officers, Greater Manchester Police's (GMP) publication has been updated and re-printed.

The booklet, entitled A Factual Guide to Drugs, has been produced to meet the needs of young people, parents and concerned adults.

They wanted an informative, reader-friendly publication which explains drugs and drugs laws as well as providing first-aid tips and details of local community drugs teams and various drugs charities.

The booklet will be mainly used by Greater Manchester Police's schools' liaison officers working with teachers to deliver presentations on topics including citizenship, personal safety, crime and its consequences, and drugs and the law.

The force's drugs strategy is designed to meet the changing circumstances arising from the Government's National Drugs Strategy, Tackling Drugs to Build a Better Britain.

Sergeant Tim O'Neil of the GMP Drug Prevention Unit, said: "There is currently a shortage of good, unbiased drug information booklets available for officers to distribute which can enhance their drugs inputs to schools and public meetings. This new booklet covers a wide range of drug issues. It is aimed at a wider audience, from 14 upwards, and is multi-purpose in its uses."

Elton High School was one of the first secondaries to receive them from PC Roy Cross, divisional schools liaison officer.

Elton assistant headteacher Mr Martin Lumb said: "We are required to teach health education. Issues surrounding drug use and misuse are part of this learning programme.

"As well as learning about drug types, their effects on the body and the wider implication for our communities, good effective health education empowers our pupils to think for themselves and make informed choices within a social and moral context."

He paid tribute to GMP and PC Cross in particular for the regular support they had provided.

A day after receiving the booklets, a GMP-sponsored play, focusing on drug misuse, was staged at the school.

Mr Lumb continued: "In addition to these drug initiatives, GMP regularly come into school to support teachers on wider issues of citizenship, personal safety and on the aims and methods of punishment."