What is a ‘drug’?

The scientific definition of a drug is a substance that alters the way in which the body or mind works.

The term applies to alcohol, drugs controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, prescribed drugs, over-the-counter medication and solvents.

Alcohol misuse – effects and consequences

For most people, drinking responsibly can be part of a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Meanwhile, the inappropriate use of alcohol can damage the health and well-being of employees and have far reaching effects on their personal lives. Drinking under age can also cause problems in later life along with problems at school and particularly with education. British teenagers are the third worst binge drinkers in Europe and their alcohol abuse is causing serious illnesses. The effect of alcohol on the long-term health and performance of the young, if they do drink it excessively, can be disastrous. Underage problem drinking is a far more widespread problem in the UK than in any other Western country.

If this threat to our society is to be countered, children and young people need to have the informed opportunity to learn ‘to think before they drink’. The earlier this process starts the more effective it can be. These disturbing facts need action now and education is a way of doing this. Using interactive learning workshops can have a huge effect on countering the problem.

More than half of 15 and 16-year-olds admitted regularly drinking to excess, the research by the University of the West of England revealed.

Persistent heavy drinking can lead to a range of social, psychological and medical problems including dependence, depression, anxiety, changes in behaviour, irritability, cirrhosis of the liver, cancer of the mouth, high blood pressure and heart attacks.

Relationship problems, both personal and work-related, are also at risk, and if not recognised and managed, can lead to more serious consequences.

Alcohol misuse – why we should act

There are a number of reasons for having a proactive approach to alcohol.

These include:

• health and safety
• other legislative requirements
• the business case
• corporate image.

Failing to address factors that make school unsafe can place can have a knock on effect for other peers and is proven to have social and health issues all round. There is strong evidence that failing to tackle issues relating to alcohol is costly.

Costs can be due to:

• increased levels of absenteeism, lateness and sickness absence
• lower productivity
• accidents and mistakes
• unacceptable conduct

With one of 2020 Dreams interactive Alcohol Awareness Workshops we can get to the root of the problem and help children discuss their problems without feeling intimidated or uneasy. The goal is to make children aware of the long term and short term effects and how they can hinder them now and in later life. It is important to make sure that they are aware of all the facts so that they can make informed choices.

Drug abuse – effects and consequences

Substance or drug abuse refers to the over-indulgence in, and dependence upon, a psychoactive drug leading to effects that are detrimental to the individual’s physical or mental health, or the welfare of others. Inappropriate use of drugs may lead to addiction or substance dependence.

As well as the penalties for offences involving controlled drugs, there are well-documented links between drug use and impairments in cognition, perception, and motor skills, both at the acute and chronic levels.

It is worth noting that over-the-counter drugs and solvents are often misused, and can be as problematic as illegal drugs in relation to the effects that they have on the individual and the impact that it can have on their behaviour.

Health risks depend on the drugs taken and include:

• increased risks of developing certain cancers
• depression and more severe mental health problems
• brain damage
• vascular disease.

The social risks are far-reaching and include:

• financial difficulties
• effects on family, friends and the wider community
• contributions to the volume of crime.

Drug abuse – why we should act

The drug risks are similar to those listed for alcohol, it is important to give children and young adults a platform to discuss their problems issues and ask questions relating to drug use and consequences. 2020 Dreams Interactive Workshops give children a chance to explore the issues surrounding drug use and help them to make the right choices when faced with issues surrounding drugs.

The environmental factors that influence the risk of addiction are:

• Home and Family. Parents or older family members who abuse alcohol or drugs, or who engage in criminal behavior, can increase children’s risks of developing their own drug problems.
• Peer and School Friends and acquaintances have the greatest influence during adolescence. Drug-abusing peers can sway even those without risk factors to try drugs for the first time. Academic failure or poor social skills can put a child further at risk for drug abuse.

Other risk factors that influence addiction:

• Early Use. Although taking drugs at any age can lead to addiction, research shows that the earlier a person begins to use drugs the more likely they are to progress to more serious abuse. This may reflect the harmful effect that drugs can have on the developing brain; it also may result from a variety of early biological and social vulnerability factors, including genetic susceptibility, mental illness, unstable family relationships, and exposure to physical or sexual abuse.
• Method of Administration. Smoking a drug or injecting it into a vein increases its addictive potential. Both smoked and injected drugs enter the brain within seconds, producing a powerful rush of pleasure. However, this intense “high” can fade within a few minutes, taking the abuser down to lower, more normal levels. It is a starkly felt contrast, and this low feeling may drive individuals to repeated drug abuse in an attempt to recapture the high pleasurable state.

Our Drugs and Alcohol Education Services provides youth centres, schools and educational establishments with up to date relevant knowledge understanding and skills in relation to substance misuse.

To book a workshop on Drug or Alcohol Awarness please contact us on 0800 689 9909 for more information

Ofsted has recently found that drug education has improved in most schools since 1997 and that pupils had a greater understanding of drugs, which is a step in the right direction. However inspectors did warn that schools might be missing the mark by focusing on illegal drugs rather than smoking and alcohol, which could potentially affect students more. It is evident that we need to focus on all drugs especially those that are considered less dangerous and more mainstream and they have a massive effect on lives and can be more accessible.

2020 Dreams take Drug Education very seriously, and we acknowledge current trends to work with your organisation to tackle and meet your specific needs and requirements. Drug and Alcohol Awareness Workshops have been created to help children and young people develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to appreciate the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. They promote responsibility towards the use of drugs and relate these to their own actions, both now and in their future lives.

Giving young people information and also it’s about helping them to make an informed choice. Young people are clearly going to make the decisions they make but let’s ensure that they do it on the basis of good information and good knowledge so they don’t feel compelled by their friends of whatever to engage in activities that are actually going to be risky to their health and often their safety.

2020 Dreams offers workshops across the UK in educating young people about drugs and its misuse. We also act as consultants in development and training programs for your staff to tackle these problems.

Our Drugs and Alcohol Education Services provides youth centres, schools and educational establishments with up to date relevant knowledge understanding and skills in relation to substance misuse.

To book a workshop on peer pressure please contact us on 0800 689 9909 for more information.

If you’re a parent or a teacher this list of topics is likely to sound quite familiar to you. However regardless of your child’s age, if they are going to school, then you need to be talking about the dangers of alcohol and other drugs with them. Drug and alcohol awareness is one of the most important and tricky topics to discuss with children, here are some ways to help address each age level.

Young Children (Primary School)

Though we would all like to believe otherwise, the truth is that even primary school students may be offered or otherwise exposed to alcohol and other drugs. It is essential that we communicate with young children to begin what will hopefully be a long running conversation about the dangers of drugs and ways to avoid them.

• Keep it simple – For example, ask them what they would do if a new school friend asked them to try a sip of beer when no parents or teachers are around. Explain that it is not the right thing to do and tell them it’s ok to say no.
• Don’t overwhelm them – Going into lots of details about the dangers of drugs will probably do more damage than good; while it’s important to educate them it’s also important not to expose them to more than they know.
• Be a good role model – If the first thing you do when you come home is head for the fridge, it’s going to give out the wrong impression. Make sure you drink when they are not around and don’t endorse the fact.

Adolescents (Middle School)

The middle school years can be particularly tricky when it comes to teens, drugs and alcohol awareness. A large proportion of middle school students have either tried alcohol or drugs or know someone who has. So your conversations with your adolescent need to be much more to the point and frank that they will be exposed to drugs.

• Be specific – Explain to your child the significant damage drugs can inflict, that you absolutely disapprove of their use, and that your adolescent needs to be prepared to say no when presented or pressured with drugs.
• Be realistic – Don’t overstate your case, stick with the facts, reality provides plenty of information about the very real devastation that drugs can cause.
• Be supportive – Your adolescent needs to know that you’re on their side. Let them know that they can confide in you without any fear.

Teenagers (High School)

High school is usually a time of increased freedom for teens and increased worries for parents and it’s not likely that your child’s teen years will be entirely complacent ones in your house.
However that does not mean that teen drug and alcohol use is a pointless discussion, or that any teen who experiments is destined for abuse and addiction.

• Stay strong – If your child is going to directly challenge or attempt to disobey your rules about alcohol and other drugs, the teen years are the most likely time for this attempted to occur.
• Be understanding – Your teen may come under fairly intense pressure to use alcohol or other drugs. Conversely, they may actively seek out opportunities to indulge. If they do make a mistake try not to overreact, it will not help them to see that they have done wrong.
• Get help – If your child’s behaviour has exceeded your ability to influence or control, then get whatever help is necessary. From counselling to a recovery support group, you have a number of options. Take advantage of the help that is available.

Drug and Alcohol Awareness Workshops have been created to help children and young people develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to appreciate the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. They promote responsibility towards the use of drugs and relate these to their own actions, both now and in their future lives.

2020 Dreams offers workshops across the UK in educating young people about drugs and its misuse. We also act as consultants in development and training programs for your staff to tackle these problems.

Our Drugs and Alcohol Education Services provides youth centres, schools and educational establishments with up to date relevant knowledge understanding and skills in relation to substance misuse.

To book a workshop on peer pressure please contact us on 0800 689 9909 for more information.

Drug and Alcohol Awareness Workshops are aimed to help children and young people develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to appreciate the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, promote responsibility towards the use of drugs and relate these to their own actions, both now and in their future lives.

With the use of 2020 Dreams Drug and Alcohol Awareness Workshops as an addition to your PSHE and citizenship curriculum, it enables children and young people to make informed choices through:

• The provision of balanced, factual information and development of understanding of that information
• The development of a range of personal skills
• The clarification of their own attitudes and values in the context of their peers, families, communities and wider society.

Communication Is Key!

• Talk to your children about drugs from an early age – they become aware earlier now due to stories in the media or in television programmes they watch
• Show them that your main concern is for their health, safety and well being
• Talk with them rather than at or to them
• Listen carefully to their feelings and views. It is important they know they can be honest with you
• Try to explain your feelings and concerns
• If they tell you they are taking drugs – do not panic. One sort of drug use doesn’t necessarily lead to a life of addiction and crime.

2020 Dreams offers workshops across the UK in educating young people about drugs and its misuse. We also act as consultants in development and training programs for your staff to tackle these problems.

Our Drugs and Alcohol Education Services provides youth centres, schools and educational establishments with up to date relevant knowledge understanding and skills in relation to substance misuse.

Our Drug and Alcohol Awareness Workshops are designed to be customised according to the needs of your organisation and are a natural compliment to your anti-bullying policy.

To book a workshop on peer pressure please contact us on 0800 689 9909 for more information.

2020 Dreams is committed to helping young people understand the importance of drugs and how they can have a huge knock on effect in present and later life. Drugs are not only dangerous but they are also one of the highest causes for teenage death. At a young age, children are vulnerable to just about anything and due to peer pressure and in order to fit into the society they will try just about anything. Not knowing the dangers of drug use is one of the main reasons teenagers start to experiment with various substances. While various types of these substances are illegal, they are easy to come by, either from friends or even from family members at times.

Here are a few reasons why we think it is important to promote drug awareness in schools.

Teenagers spend more time with their friends both at school and outside, so the school environment is the best place to teach them about the dangers of drug use. They tend to take more interest and learn more about drug abuse if they are with the same group of people. If all schools make drug abuse awareness classes mandatory, more kids will be able to learn about the dangers and refrain from using them.

Substance abuse is on the rise and due to our media based society and the need to fit in, teenagers will go to any distance with it. Media makes us feel that we have to look and act a certain way and teens often fall into the trap and find themselves under pressure. This leads to finding ways to numb their pain and often it’s the illegal drugs which come to their aid faster than their family.

Drug awareness workshops help teens learn the dangers early, and with knowledge, they tend to refrain from abusing substances. If they are told about the side effects or how fatal even a little dose can get, they will generally stay away and understand that there is a lot more to their lives than drugs.

Early knowledge brings better understanding and schools are able to educate teens much faster than the society can.

Please visit our alcohol and drug workshops to find out more information on workshops we offer.

Or call us on 0800 689 9909 and we can help you.