Teenage Kicks

Educating teenagers about drugs and alcohol

If you ask an 11 year old if they have been offered drugs, 15% will say yes. If you ask a 15 year old, that proportion nearly trebles. These figures - from an NHS Digital survey - show how common it is for children to be exposed to drugs, and how this exposure increases during the teenage years.

The adults in the lives of these young people know all too well how tumultuous the ages of 11-15 can be. Not only is the child pulling away from their caregivers, but their developing brain means they are more impulsive and emotional, particularly when with their peers. Given their growing exposure to the inherent risks posed by drugs at the same time, it makes them extremely vulnerable.

It’s a heady mix (no pun intended), and one that cannot - and should not - be ignored. But there is good news: NHS Digital research reveals that when 11-15 year olds were asked where they would go for helpful information about drugs, parents (67%) and teachers (64%), comfortably beat other sources such as the internet, social media and friends. So, while it might feel like children stop listening to the trusted adults in their lives as they enter teens, that isn’t the case.

Parent power

Parents can find drugs a difficult topic to tackle, perhaps fearing that broaching the subject might put ideas in their child’s head that they hadn’t previously had.

These conversations can start light and deepen over time. For example, giving factual answers to questions about caffeine (eg. “coffee makes me feel more awake but if I have too much, I don’t feel good”) and nicotine (eg. “vaping has helped me stop smoking, now I’m reducing my vaping too”) demonstrates openness. This will pay dividends later on as the child’s social life widens, meaning they will feel more able to talk about what they are doing.

Choosing the right time and tone is key. Keeping it non-confrontational and chatty works best, such as picking up on depictions of drunkenness on TV, or a drug-related news story on the radio. Be non-judgemental and respectful of their views and adopt a little-and-often approach: sixty one-minute dialogues will have more impact than one sixtyminute monologue! Also make sure any information you discuss is up to date and accurate.

Education, education, education

Positive three-way relationships between students, families and academic settings can make a real difference when it comes to young people’s experiences and outcomes, including for drug education. However, less than two-thirds of 11-15 year olds surveyed by the NHS felt their school gave them enough information about alcohol (64%) and drugs (63%).

FOR MORE INFORMATION about the DSM Foundation, go to www.dsmfoundation.org.uk

FIONA SPARGO-MABBS OBE, Director and Founder www.dsmfoundation.org.uk