Illegal Drugs - Teacher Booklet

6 why do young people use drugs ? An insight into the pressures young people face can give teachers an understanding of the reasons young people may use drugs and can help in responding in a constructive way. Below are some of the reasons young people give for using drugs and ideas for starting conversations with them: “Someone had some and I just thought I’d try it” - Ask if they knew what they were taking and discuss the effects of that particular drug; - Ask whether it was what they expected, and talk about the risks of continued use; - Try and find out if they felt pressured, and if so, discuss ways to handle similar situations in the future. “I always wanted to try that stuff” - Ask what made that particular drug appealing, and what they expected to get from it; - If they are happy to talk, you could discuss whether they have tried other drugs, and if so, why. “All my friends were doing it so I thought why not?” - Ask if they felt safe because their friends were using it; - Ask why they thought their friends used the drug; - It’s useful to discuss the importance of being able to make their own choices, even if these choices are different from those of their friends. “It made me feel really good” - Find out how they have been feeling in general, as this may be a good time to offer help and to find out if there is anything else going on, or if they want to talk about another issue; - Talk about less risky and healthier ways of feeling good. “All my problems from school, at home and in life just went away” -Let them know that you’d like to talk about any problems and discuss how to make things better; -Discuss whether the problems returned after the effects of the drug wore off and highlight that using only makes the problems disappear for a while; -Make it clear that you want to work together to find a better way of solving their problems. “It gave me more confidence” - Let them know that they don’t need drugs to be more confident; - Share similar experiences where you found it difficult in social situations and explain things you did to gain more confidence; - Consider ways in which you can help improve their confidence and self-esteem. “I don’t want to talk about it” - If they don’t want to discuss their use with you, offer to help them find someone else to talk to; - Reassure them that what you want is what is best for them and understand if they would prefer to speak to someone else outside of the situation.