Abstract

Objectives: Research on drug abuse education in secondary schools have highlighted the discrepancy between drug policies and practice. Drug abuse is closely associated with child mental health and with increasing drug overdose deaths in the UK, approximately doubling in the last 30 years, it becomes important to revolutionise drug abuse education. Medical professionals from the University of Nottingham piloted a drug abuse workshop at a state school in Nottingham to children between the ages of 14-15years. An interactive and educational approach was implemented which explained addiction through amedical perspective. The workshop aimed to debunk medical beliefs children harboured about drugs and to support children in making informed drug choices.

Methods: The sample group consisted of six cohorts of 30 children from Year 10. The workshop was delivered in three segments to each cohort. In the first segment the children were introduced to the physiological mechanisms behind drug dependence and reward pathways. The second segment consisted of interactive discussions between the children and medical professionals. This also involved conversations between the children about their perspectives around drug abuse, thereby co-creating knowledge. The third segment used art to incorporate storytelling from the perspective of a year 10 child. This exercise investigated the causes that led children to abuse drugs. A feedback questionnaire was distributed among the children to analyse the impact of the workshop.

Results: The children answered 8 questions. Table 1 contains the responses of the feedback questionnaire collected from 36 children. 56% agreed/strongly agreed that they found being taught by medical professionals effective. 50% disagreed, strongly disagreed or felt neutral that they received sufficient education about drug abuse previously. Notably, 20% agreed that they feel more likely to ask for help from a medical professional or organization if they needed it. 

Conclusion: The results highlighted the relevance of medical professionals to function as peer educators on drug abuse education to secondary school children. This would build trust between children and the medical profession within the community. However, a minority proportion of children showed keenness to seek support from medical professionals or organisations for their mental health if they needed it. This exposed the anxiety children have in coming forward to seek professional help. In order to work towards a child-centred approach, educational policies and practices need to align. Similar workshops and research may need to be conducted to expose different perspectives towards drug abuse education.

Questions
Before attending this workshop, did you feel that you got enough education about drugs?	2	3	13	14	4
Did you find being taught by medical professionals effective?	2	3	11	19	1
Do you feel that you know a lot more about drugs after the workshop?	2	6	18	6	4
Did you find the workshop appropriate for your age?	1	2	12	16	5
Did you enjoy learning about the science behind getting “hooked” on something and drugs as chemicals?	4	5	14	12	1
Did you enjoy learning about substance abuse through storytelling and art?	2	6	12	13	3
Did you enjoy challenging your everyday thoughts about substance abuse with interactive activities at the workshop?	2	10	17	8	1
After the workshop, did you feel like you are more likely to ask for help from a medical professional or any organisation for mental health mentioned in the workshop if you needed it?	3	6	20	7	0

 

Keywords

Drug Abuse