BOLTON'S drug action co-ordinator has criticised government plans to show a video in schools about the death of a heroin addict.

Sandie Nesbitt, who co-ordinates drug education in Bolton's schools, fears that the video on the death of Rachel Whitear will "glamorise and excite" the issues -- not stop children from taking drugs.

Government education secretary Estelle Morris has decided to make the video, entitled Rachel's Story, available to secondary schools and even some primary schools across the country.

But the town's drug co-ordinator claims that such shock tactics do not work and fears the video will undermine the work being undertaken on drugs education in local schools.

She said: "Shock horror does not work. Although I haven't seen the video, it sounds as though if it were to have an effect on children, it would only be in the short-term.

"A good analogy is someone driving at 90mph on the motorway, seeing an accident and slowing down, but then driving at the same speed the following day because they have forgotten about it.

"The video is about someone who has died of a heroin overdose, but the majority of children who experiment with drugs, use cannabis or Ecstasy and not heroin.

"The children who are likely to take heroin are the ones who are most vulnerable and might be caught up in the criminal justice system or have parents who are addicts and they need a very specific and intense intervention from all the agencies.

"Shock tactics have been used to try and stop young people smoking, but they have not worked.

"Children are well aware that thousands of people die every year from smoking related illness, but the number of young people smoking is still rising."

She added: "I find this a very difficult Government strategy to accept."

GRIEVING FOR RACHEL: Michael and Pauline Holcroft, step-father and mother of heroin addict Rachel Whitear, holding the video, with the Minister for Young People Ivan Lewis, centre