Publication Of Report To Government By Advisory Group On Drug And Alcohol Education, UK

Main Category: Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs
Article Date: 24 Oct 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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Speaking about the release of the Advisory Group on Drug and Alcohol Education's report, and the government's response, Eric Carlin, Chair of the Drug Education Forum, said:

The problems that drugs and alcohol cause are too important for drug education to be an optional subject for parents or schools.

The Drug Education Forum has been championing the importance of supporting parents for many years. This can be done by ensuring that parents have the right information and that every child and young person receives high quality drug and alcohol education from trained professionals.

The review and the government's response offer a significant opportunity to reduce the harm to children, young people and their families from drug and alcohol problems.

We are delighted to see the government's intent to make Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) a compulsory subject and look forward to working with the government to complete the technical review.

The Advisory Group on Drug and Alcohol Education make three key recommendations to the government in their report:

- Parents and carers - support their knowledge and skills about drug and alcohol education and prevention;

- Schools - make PSHE a statutory subject and enhance training for teachers; and

- Early intervention - improve identification and support for young people vulnerable to drug misuse in schools, colleges and non-formal settings.

Also published today are the findings from two surveys carried out to inform the review.

1. The Drug Education Forum's Effective Drug Education Survey

A web based survey of over 350 drug education professionals. Key findings include:

- 36% of respondents think the drug education they know has the support of senior staff.
- 45% think it is taught by skilled and confident staff.
- 52% say that the drug education they know is based on the latest evidence.
- 68% were able to agree that drug education meets the current curriculum requirements.
- 67% said that lack of specialist staff was the biggest barrier to improving drug education.
2. Parentline Plus's Drug and Alcohol Education Report

A web based survey of 120 parents and an analysis of calls to Parentline Plus. Key findings include:

- Almost a third of parents do not feel that they have the knowledge to discuss drugs and alcohol with their children.
- Parents and carers want drugs and alcohol education delivered in schools as well as other settings.
- Parents and carers are more likely to express concern about their sons' behaviour relating to drugs and alcohol than their daughters, except with girls aged 10-15 who are consuming alcohol

Notes

- The Drug Education Forum is the independent voice for drug education in England. Membership of the Forum is open to any national organisation that has an interest in the delivery of effective drug education in England.

Current members include major children's and drug charities, national independent providers and health educators, teaching, nursing and youth service unions, the police and local government.

- Drug Education; an Entitlement for All; a report to Government by the Advisory Group on Drug and Alcohol Education and the surveys carried out to support the review are available for download from the Forum's website.

http://www.drugeducationforum.com

The Drug Education Forum
74 Great Eastern Street, London, EC2A 3JG
http://www.drugeducationforum.com

Members:

Adfam, Alcohol Concern, Association of Chief Police Officers, Association of School and College Leaders, Association of Teachers and Lecturers, Care for the Family, Children in Crisis, The Children's Society, Clubs for Young People, Children's Safety Education Foundation, the DrinkAware Trust, DARE UK, Drug Education Practitioners Forum, Drugsline, DrugScope, Hope UK, Life Education Centres, Local Government Association, Mentor UK, NASUWT, National Association of Youth and Community Education Officers, National Children's Bureau, National Health Education Group, NSCoPSE- the National PSE Association, NSPCC, National Union of Teachers, National Youth Agency, PSHE Subject Association, Re-Solv, the RCN school nurses forum, Tacade, and Voice - the union for education professionals.

Source
George Ruston
Hope UK's Executive Director
http://www.hope.uk.org