A NEW board game designed to combat drug abuse by children her been launched.

Joint Efforts aims to increase and develop drug awareness and over the past year 160 teachers have been trained in using the game.

It now forms part of Lancashire County Council's secondary school personal, social and health education programmes for 13 to 15-year-olds. The game was launched by Janet Anderton, MP for Darwen and Rossendale and County Councillor Dorothy Westell, at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel, Clayton-le-Moors, on Friday as part of the Lancashire Drug Action Team Education Strategy.

County Councillor Westell said the resource is all about awareness. "It is important to increase levels of drug awareness and teach people how to deal with any incidents they may find in everyday life.

"Joint Efforts allows serious drug policy information to be put across in a creative and participatory way.

"The response so far has been very positive."

The board features a building such as a school, community centre or village hall and the surrounding community for players to travel through.

It includes two sets of questions.

Players move around the board and have to answer the various questions identifying policy, procedure and good practice for dealing with drug-related incidents.