THE unit responsible for educating schoolchildren about the dangers of alcohol and drugs has been axed, the teachers' union says.
A Teachers Federation spokesman, David Ferguson, said the union had seen the final paperwork and the ''drug prevention unit'' would cease to exist next year.
Senior jobs to go include the manager of drug prevention programs, leader of drug and alcohol prevention strategy and drug and alcohol prevention, aboriginal support, along with a dozen regional jobs.
''These are vital, expert teaching positions. The government is putting at risk the welfare of our young people by significantly reducing the support available for drug and alcohol prevention,'' he said.
Sven Wright, a spokesman for NSW Education, said the details of a new structure were still to be decided.
In a statement he said: ''The department's Drug and Alcohol Education Unit is still operating, but is subject to changes … due to be confirmed at the end of this term.''
Warning labels provided by DrinkWise, some of whose directors have key roles in the drinks industry, are also under the spotlight.
Health ministers responsible for introducing alcohol pregnancy warning labels have been accused of dragging their heels by the independent Foundation for Alcohol Research & Education.
