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To help support your campaign, we are excited to share our community handbook. Whether you’re looking to run a social media campaign, host an event or workshop, or simply start a conversation about alcohol harm, our handbook is packed with ideas to help you get started.

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Concerns follow reports that pupils from at least two schools were rushed to hospital after inhaling vapes laced with THC

Concerns follow reports that pupils from at least two schools were rushed to hospital after inhaling vapes laced with THC

Growing numbers of schools and councils are issuing warnings over pupils vaping class B drugs, as the devices continue to cause widespread disruption to the education sector.

The concerns follow reports that pupils from at least two schools have been rushed to hospital after inhaling vapes laced with THC - the main psychoactive component in cannabis - this year.

Honywood School, in Essex, became the latest to send a letter to parents, after becoming aware that some of its pupils "have been able to access and use this substance".

Councils, including Middlesbrough, Hampshire and Brighton, have also issued guidance in recent months on the potential effects of such substances being vaped by young people.

A survey of 4,000 members published by teachers' union NASUWT in October found 85 per cent believed vaping was a problem on school premises, with three-quarters saying the issue had grown over the past year.

Comments on their experiences included that students were "vaping THC and being sick, passing out and being high whilst on school premises", and that there had been an "escalation from vaping nicotine to THC".

Honywood headteacher James Saunders said, like many secondary schools, it had been forced to "run a pretty tight ship" in terms of monitoring vaping among pupils since Covid.

The school has trialled a vape detector and places pupils caught with a device in isolation. "We've managed to kind of contain it and keep a lot of it out of school, but that doesn't mean it's eradicated," said Saunders.

Fears over odourless vapes

A recent incident in which a child was suspected of using a vape containing THC posed another challenge because the substance is "pretty odourless... whereas the others have fancy smells so you could smell if someone has done it".

Pupils caught in possession of illegal substances are permanently excluded, while the school is "constantly in communication" with police, said Saunders.

However, he warned that while the incident was the first he'd come across, "I think it's going to start emerging as a bigger thing".

And while vaping itself could be disruptive to the school day, "that's got more serious consequences because people could end up in hospital".

In May, Burnley Unity College confirmed three of its secondary students were taken to hospital after smoking a vape suspected of containing THC.

Headteacher Jane Richardson said at the time that it was working with Lancashire Police, Trading Standards, the UK Health Security Agency and local safeguarding partners to "keep our children safe".

According to reports, two pupils at Saddleworth School in Greater Manchester ended up in A&E in September after being given a vape on a school bus suspected of containing THC.

Both schools were contacted for comment.

Pupil rushed to hospital after collapse

Glyn Potts, headteacher of Newman RC College, in Oldham, said he first became aware of disposable vapes being "repurposed" after a 13-year-old male pupil collapsed in July last year.

The boy, who Potts said had taken a vaping device from his older brother, took the "largest inhalation he could have done" before he got off the school bus and was taken to hospital.

He added that other schools in the area had experienced similar incidents with devices that have "cracks in the plastic" and had been "broken into".

A "response system" now exists in Oldham, whereby if a pupil collapses "we can confiscate the vape, we can give it to the police, who will make a decision about whether it ... needs to be tested."

Greater Manchester Police said it shared information and was working with partner agencies and Trading Standards to tackle illegal vapes.

Potts said he was "concerned" about the 3 per cent of pupils he estimates are using illicit vapes, but added that while they may come in reporting that they "feel unwell", much of the issue was happening outside the school gates.

Schools invest in fireproof boxes

While Newman is investing in a fireproof box for storing illicit vapes that are also "prone to exploding", it has only confiscated six vapes this academic year, none of which contained class Bs.

Middlesbrough Council issued a warning to parents in October after Cleveland Police seized "dozens of vapes" confiscated from students by a school in the area.

The force found that a small number tested positive for class B substances, which the council said could cause "serious health problems".

Brighton & Hove Council said in July that the "rapid rise of vaping among children and young people, including the use of cheaper illicit and unregulated vapes, is extremely concerning".

In the same month, while announcing a crackdown on teen vaping - which included renewing vaping prevention programmes with schools - Hampshire County Council pointed to illegal products on the market that may contain THC.

The government has set out proposals for cracking down on underage vaping and carried out a call for evidence.

Pupils "should be taught the facts about legal and illegal harmful substances" in RSHE lessons, a Department for Education spokesperson said.

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Schools sound warning over vapes laced with drugs

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Growing numbers of schools and councils are issuing warnings over pupils vaping class B drugs, as the devices continue to cause widespread disruption

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National Association for Children of Alcoholics

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National Association for Children of Alcoholics

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Support and helpline for young people

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Vaping factsheet for teaching professionals

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Vaping factsheet for teaching professionals

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Mental wellbeing | Overview | PHE School Zone

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Our films on mental wellbeing feature positive role models (influencers and vloggers) and act as conversation starters to facilitate student-led discussion on multiple issues to build resilience.

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Holiday activities and food (HAF) is a programme of free, fun activities for the summer holidays funded by the Department for Education.

Children of families supported by benefits-related free school meals can have up to 16 days of free activities. The activities will help to:

increase self-esteem

improve wellbeing

provide information and advice on healthy eating and nutrition

Most importantly, we want your children to have some fun.

Some activity providers also have spaces available for any child, but there may be a cost to parents.
Find HAF events near you
About HAF events

We have a variety of events, they all include an activity and a nutritious meal.

Clubs and activities are run by established community groups, creative arts, sports, leisure, and youth organisations.

We have a range of providers who can offer activities for young people with additional needs. You can discuss your child's needs with the provider.

If you'd like more information please get in touch. HAF@Cumberland.gov.uk

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Holiday activities and food (HAF) programme

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If your child has free school meals you can find and book free childrens' activities and events in the school holidays.

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Curriculum
Supports the Health Education curriculum
By the end of secondary school, students should know:

The facts about legal and illegal drugs and their associated risks, including the link between drug use and the associated risks, including the link to serious mental health issues.

The physical and psychological consequences of addiction, including alcohol dependency.

Supports the PSHE curriculum KS3 - Students learn:

H23 - the positive and negative uses of drugs in society, including the safe use of prescribed and over-the-counter medicines; responsible use of antibiotics.

H24 - to evaluate the misconceptions, social norms and cultural values relating to drug, alcohol and tobacco use.

H25 - strategies to manage a range of influences on drug, alcohol and tobacco use, including peers.

H26 - information about alcohol, nicotine and other legal and illegal substances, including the short-term and long-term health risks associated with their use.

H27 - the personal and social risks and consequences of substance use and misuse, including occasional use.

H28 - the law relating to the supply, use and misuse of legal and illegal substances.

H29 - about the concepts of dependence and addiction, including awareness of help to overcome addictions.

Supports the Biology curriculum KS3 - Gas exchange systems

The impact of exercise, asthma and smoking on the human gas exchange system.

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Vaping - KS3 form time activities | PHE School Zone

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Students explore the facts and impacts of vaping in these flexible NHS-approved activities

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Includes case studies from other CAPs.

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Includes case studies from CAPs.

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CAP Annual Review 2022-23 - digitalFINAL

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A range of campaign materials can be found on the Teams site using this link Workington CAP promotional materials

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https://alcoholeducationtrust.org
Free training available on Alcohol Education Trust materials.
To arrange free AET training for yourselves or colleagues.
Contact :

kathryn@alcoholeducationtrust.org

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Alcohol Awareness Week is an opportunity for charities, local authorities, GP surgeries, businesses and more to think and talk about alcohol harm with their communities. Sign up now to stay in the loop about Alcohol Awareness Week 2024.

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Alcohol Awareness Week | Alcohol Change UK

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This year's Alcohol Awareness Week takes place from 3-9 July 2023 on the theme of 'Alcohol and cost'.

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Webinar how to use SMASHED training resource

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Webinar how to use SMASHED training resource

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Watch a Webinar on how the course is delivered.

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Alcohol Education to Empower a Generation

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Free Challenge 25 training - instructions for team members

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Free Challenge 25 training - instructions for team members

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SMASHED - Teacher / Tutor class resource (free to use)

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SMASHED - Teacher / Tutor class resource (free to use)

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A 45 minute interactive session to use in a classroom or workshop. You need an internet connection and screen / white board to use it.

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Alcohol Education to Empower a Generation

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Alcohol Education to Empower a Generation

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Resources available free of charge now from AET!

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Resources available free of charge now from AET!

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Resources available free of charge now from AET!

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A reminder about our range of evidence-based resources available now to download or as hard copies free of charge. To order your resources, please email kate@alcoholeducationtrust.org . We are now taking orders for delivery this term or in preparation for the new school year.

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The Well Communities CIC - Substance Misuse and Emotional Resilience Workshops - Countywide Cumbria

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The Well Communities CIC - Substance Misuse and Emotional Resilience Workshops - Countywide Cumbria

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Substance Misuse & Emotional Resilience Training delivery countywide Cumbria.

Bespoke training delivered pre and post pandemic last week to over 400 young people since 2019.

Delivered countywide Cumbria by fully trained and experience senior staff the training aims to inform delegates to the risks of problematic substance use, refusal techniques, emotional resilience and the importance of informed choices and decisions.

Training delivery is underpinned by " Lived Experience " testimony by members of TWC client group who show visible evidence of the harms caused by adolescent substance misuse

Upstream Education is an important preventative intervention and The Well Communities CIC are proud to support this approach.

For further information or to discuss subsidised costings for your training needs please call The Well Communities Business Development Manager Ged Pickersgill on 07922 222670 or email ged@thewell2.co.uk

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See what CADAS can offer your school

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Drinkaware - Advice for parents and carers

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Drinkaware - Advice for parents and carers

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Drinking alcohol underage drinking has risks to physical and mental wellbeing. Find all the facts and advice about underage drinking from the law to avoiding peer pressure.

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Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England, 2021

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Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England, 2021

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Statistical information here that may be useful for supporting funding applications / evidencing need for a project.

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Correction to sources of information on drug use data (part 10)

Following the initial publication it was discovered that around half of pupil responses to the question on 'Sources of helpful information about drug use' had been excluded from the results. This was corrected and the affected tables and commentary have been re-issued.

In Part 10: Young people and drugs: the context, the affected outputs were tables 10.19, 10.20 and 10.21, and the associated chart and commentary in the section on 'Sources of helpful information about drug use'. Though some of the quoted figures changed by 0-3 percentage points, there was no effect to the order of contribution of the most common sources.

4 November 2022 00:00 AM

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Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England, 2021 - NDRS

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Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people / school children

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Our new report: An alcohol-free childhood - Action to ensure parents keep their children free from alcohol harm draws on extensive research that shows parents are largely unaware of guidance from the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) that the healthiest and safest option is for children to remain alcohol free up to the age of 18.
We believe the Government and others should actively promote the CMO guidance and do more to ensure that parents are made aware of this advice and actively involved in alcohol education for children and young people.

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Includes case studies from a range of CAPs across the country.

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Speakers discussed reducing alcohol related harm to young adults, looking at issues from drink spiking to supporting the student population. Click the link below.

CAP webinar 2022: The 18-25 approach - YouTube

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11 - 13 year-olds

The average age of a first whole drink in the UK is between the ages of 13 and 14, so it's important to talk at an early age and for your child to have an understanding of units, how alcohol affects the body and liver, why young bodies can't cope with alcohol and the risks they run by experimenting. This is why the UK Chief Medical Officers recommend that children under 15 should not drink alcohol, as their brains and livers are not fully developed and are more liable to damage than adults.

At age 11, children see it as unacceptable to get drunk and more than 99% don't drink regularly, but age 13 is what we call 'the tipping point'. Growing up is an awkward time, reaching puberty, their social lives changing, relationships and peer pressure growing - and probably being less open with you. Try not to force the subject, wait until the subject comes up via the TV, the media or similar. Put a conversation about drinking in context with other 'life skills', such as staying safe, talking about drugs and what sex is all about.

You might think your 'baby' is too young for all this, but unfortunately in this savvy world they'll be more informed than you think! Often, a good approach is to talk about a risky situation involving alcohol featured in a soap, movie or in the news. Car journeys work well as your kids can't walk off, they don't have to make eye contact and it is a neutral zone. Try to use open ended questions such as 'Tell me about' or 'What did you think about..?'

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The right message for the right age - Alcohol Education Trust

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The average age of a first whole drink in the UK is between the ages of 13 and 14, so it's important to talk at an early age and for your child to have an understanding of units, how alcohol affects the body and liver, why young bodies can't cope with alcohol and the risks they run by experimenting.

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SMASHED - online course for young people

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SMASHED - online course for young people

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https://online.smashedproject.org/uk/
Free online course for young people on dangers of alcohol.

Short trailer on the programme  https://youtu.be/mL2-QVMCPfM

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Alcohol Education to Empower a Generation

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An article that you may find useful to share with parents of under 18s.

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Guest blog: A parent’s guide to preventing underage drinking

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Kate Winstanley talks about the risks of underage drinking and how parents can help prevent it.

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https://cadas.co.uk/young-people/

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Short videos of young people talking about their experience of consuming alcohol.

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Education resources on alcohol and drink spiking.