Name: _________________________________________
Date: _________________
Year Group: _________
📊 Key Facts
- Around 19% of 15-year-olds in England have tried illegal drugs at least once
- Cannabis is the most commonly used drug among young people
- Alcohol is a factor in 40% of A&E admissions for under-16s
- Most young people who try drugs do so with friends, not strangers
- Early onset of drug use significantly increases the risk of dependency in adulthood
- Young people are significantly more vulnerable to the neurological effects of cannabis than adults
⚖️ The Law
- Class A (heroin, cocaine, MDMA, LSD): up to 7 years possession, life for supply
- Class B (cannabis, amphetamines, ketamine): up to 5 years possession, 14 years supply
- Class C (anabolic steroids, some tranquillisers): up to 2 years possession, 14 years supply
- Psychoactive Substances Act 2016: blanket ban on novel psychoactive substances (NPS/legal highs)
- Possession with intent to supply: courts infer intent from quantity, packaging, and other evidence
- Drug testing can be used in schools with parental consent
✏️ Think About It: Scenarios
Scenario 1: A friend tells you something worrying about drug awareness. What do you do?
Scenario 2: You see something related to drug awareness that concerns you. What are your options?
Scenario 3: Someone you know seems to be in a situation involving drug awareness. How do you respond?
💡 Key Messages
- All drugs, including alcohol, carry risks — particularly for the developing adolescent brain
- 'Everyone does it' is a social norm myth — most young people don't use drugs regularly
- Being concerned about a friend's use is a reason to seek advice, not to stay silent
- Help is available without automatic punishment — FRANK is anonymous
- Declining drugs is a choice you should feel genuinely free to make
🆘 Need Help?
Childline: 0800 1111 (free, 24/7, confidential)
Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111 (100% anonymous)
CEOP: ceop.police.uk (online exploitation)
Emergency: 999