The Drugs File

Subject: Health Education
Level: Secondary
Age Group: 11 - 14
Order Number: 3053

There is a lot myth surrounding drug taking and the misuse of drugs. On the street children will hear a lot about the attractions of various drugs, deliberate misinformation peddled by pushers, dealers and suppliers seeking a new source of income, misinformation already assimilated by their peers, then contrasting this with conflicting information provided by parents, teachers and carers. Some high profile personalities and teenage icons promote a glamorous lifestyle surrounding drugs and substances misuse, whilst 'authority' tries to warn of the dangers (sometimes!). This booklet inclines towards presenting facts and promoting the disadvantageous of a drugs habit, to even out 'street' advice. Misuse is risky, and the risks are clearly stated here.

Twenty drugs, (legal and illegal), that are commonly open to misuse are covered, in A4 format for ease of photocopying, providing facts, comments and questions for pupils to answer. There are also 'key-word' wordsearches to accompany every worksheet. Information sheets cover the law and the penalties that can be applied for possession and/or supply, and general points that may be used to stimulate discussion.

Teachers have the choice of running through the worksheets in the order that they are presented, as a standalone course, or they can selective and use the worksheets to support other courses and schemes. The worksheets are suitable for both keystage 3 and keystage 4 pupils. They can also be used as extension tasks or homework. Each page can stand-alone and can be easily photocopied. There is also a blank grid for pupils to design their own wordsearch, and a change for them to design a poster warning of some of the dangers of drug misuse.

There are conflicting statements about drugs even within the resources available to schools. All comment, opinions and facts used in this publication draw upon the latest available information from reliable and established resources.