Education

All Cambridgeshire schools benefit from a long established drug education system which combines specific drug education with the wider themes of Personal, Social and Health Education and the (national) Health Promoting Schools initiative. The aim of drug education within Cambridgeshire schools is to provide all young people with the necessary skills, knowledge and attitudes that enable them to make positive and healthy choices in their lives when confronted by opportunities that pose genuine risk for them.

Cambridgeshire PHSE Service provides support for schools in teaching drug education and awareness from the ages of 4 - 16. In conjunction with this drug awareness evenings for parents are held in both primary and secondary schools, where parents can get advice and information about substance misuse and their children. These are held in secondary schools every other year and primary schools every three years. For details of your nearest Drug Awareness Session, please contact Sue on 01480 375 171.

While not condoning the use and misuse of drugs and alcohol it is recognized that most young people, particularly at the ages of 14-16, may be offered the opportunity to experiment with illegal drugs and may be able to obtain alcohol below the legal age for purchase.

The Cambridgeshire PHSE Service believe their work with young people should be guided by detailed and up too date information about young people, their attitudes and behaviour. Primary schools have been involved in a draw and write survey called "Dogs and Rugs", which looks at the drug awareness and knowledge of 5-11 year olds. Secondary schools undertook the Balding Health Related Behaviour Survey during summer 2002, providing invaluable information about the drug and alcohol use of young people at district council level. This enables a better understanding of young peoples knowledge in order to better target drug and alcohol education.

Ideally the aim of drug education is that all students should refuse to experiment with illegal drugs or misuse alcohol. But, if they do, PHSE drug education aims to equip them with the capacity to manage the situation to ensure their personal safety and to know where help and advice can be found if needed.

Bottisham saw the pilot of the Community Drugs Policy, which will be rolled out across Cambridgeshire by the end of 2004. The policy encourages a shared approach to drug education and managing drug related situations and incidents, so that young people and those working or living with them experience consistent messages and practice.