A MAJOR conference highlighting the perils of drug and alcohol misuse among young people is to be staged in Darlington tomorrow.

Health chiefs and youth workers have joined forces to stage the event at the Arts Centre, in Vane Terrace.

The Darlington Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco seminar will include speeches from former Health Secretary Alan Milburn and Darlington Borough Council's education spokesman Stephen Harker.

Mr Milburn will be presenting the Government's views on drugs education and on outside agencies delivering the drugs message in schools.

A series of workshops will be held, involving young people and there will be examples of good practice of drugs education within schools.

The seminar follows on from the Teacher Observation Project.

Darlington Borough Council was one of 30 authorities to receive Government funding to support teachers in warning pupils about drink and drugs. Friday's seminar will be a chance to share the experiences from the observation project.

Coun Harker said: "The seminar brings together a wealth of different experience and knowledge within the field of drugs education.

"It is our aim to deliver drugs education as a package working with the education department, schools, the police, health professionals, the local drugs action team and young people themselves.

"By getting together like this that we can co-ordinate an approach where resources are pooled and duplication is avoided. Young people will be involved at every stage ensuring that the final programme delivered to schools is one that is relevant and accessible to its audience."

For more details contact Martin Webster on (01325) 388859.