Drug Education in Schools
In recent years illegal drugs have become more easily available and less expensive. All children and young people at school need drug education to alert them to the dangers posed by drugs. The education which children receive will provide information and access to lifestyles and activities that will support good health, and in which drugs have no place.
All children and young people at school should be given drug education. Parents should enter into discussion with the head teacher should they have any concern about any drug education. It is important that parents are given full information in order to overcome any fears they may have about the programme being offered by the school.
Aims of Drug Education
A good well-rounded programme of drugs education should aim to:
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allow pupils to develop knowledge and understanding about drugs, their effects, and the implications of misuse
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provide opportunities for pupils to develop beliefs, attitudes and values about drugs
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allow pupils to develop skills which enable them to make healthy choices and decisions about drugs, including those which allow them to resist peer pressure
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link with other components of personal, social and health education to develop life skills and promote access to positive, health promoting lifestyles
What will be learned in drug education?
Keeping staff up to date on drugs
It is important that teaching staff have access to in-service training in drug education to ensure that they keep up-to-date in drug education and trends. The Education Improvement Service (EdIS) in Glasgow provides regular in-service training. In addition, arrangements are made for staff to access courses organised in conjunction with other agencies.