The role of drug education in schools

Schools play an important role, both inside and beyond the classroom, in preventing alcohol and other drug harm. While providing drug education as part of the curriculum is important, there’s more that schools can do.

Learning doesn’t happen solely in the classroom.

The culture of the school, and young people’s experiences at school can also be important protective factors against the harm from alcohol and other drugs.¹

Why the school experience matters

Attending school is a major part of a young person’s life. About a quarter of each weekday is spent at school, more if someone participates in extra-curricular activities.

A positive school experience isn’t just about receiving a high-quality academic education – it’s also about belonging to a community which has a warm, inclusive and supportive culture.

School is a place to meet new people, make friends, form social circles and try out new hobbies and other activities. 

Taking a ‘whole of school’ approach

A ‘whole of school’ approach takes a holistic view, recognising that student health and wellbeing are the result of complex and overlapping factors in the school’s environment.

Substantial social learning happens outside the classroom.

Having good relationships with peers, teachers, sports coaches and other staff, such as school counsellors and nurses, can impact a young person’s development.

Feeling a sense of belonging and connection to a school, and having positive role models, can help to protect young people from experiencing harm from alcohol and other drugs.^{1, 2} A good school culture may also have other positive benefits for students, such as reducing bullying and increasing their physical activity.³

A ‘whole of school’ approach includes policies and plans for the management of any alcohol or other drug-related incidents. Establishing and promoting clear protocols ensures that everyone understands their role and expected behaviours, while emphasising the school’s commitment to preventing harm.⁴

This approach works alongside evidence-based drug education in the classroom.

Drug education in the classroom

Drug education usually focuses on influencing students’ values, attitudes, knowledge and skills so they make healthier decisions about alcohol and other drugs.^{5, 6}

There are principles that guide best-practice drug education. It needs to be:

• appropriately timed, so that students receive accurate information and develop skills before they need to use them
• delivered by teachers who have had relevant professional development to support their work
• interactive and include students developing skills such as decision-making and assertiveness
• accurate and relevant to real life, including information about how many young people are actually using alcohol and other drugs.

Young people need to get the facts around drug use so that they don’t believe ‘everyone else is doing it’. The truth is, they’re not.

Overall, the rates of alcohol and other drug use by teenagers have been decreasing.⁸

Lessons should focus on the most commonly used drugs that young people are more likely to be exposed to, which are alcohol, tobacco and cannabis.

There are also some education approaches that are not recommended, such as:^{4, 9}

• lecture-style lessons with little or no student engagement
• one-off presentations that aren’t linked with the curriculum
• scare tactics that make inaccurate statements or exaggerate potential harm.

Educators should be cautious not to inadvertently glamourise or present alcohol or drug use as exciting or an adventure – even a frightening one.

It’s best to avoid using language or images that stigmatise people who use drugs, such as describing people who use drugs as ‘dirty’ or showing extreme images of people who may have used drugs. Students might have a family member who has experienced dependence or might need help themselves. Having drug use stigmatised in the classroom may mean they feel too ashamed to ask for support. 

Learn more about stigma.

The limits of drug education

While important, drug education in schools will only have limited impact.

Evidence-based drug education has a role to play in preventing or delaying the use of alcohol and other drugs by young people. The later that use happens and the less frequent it is, the better an individual’s health outcomes are likely to be.

However, education alone won’t overcome the influence of media, advertising, music, online influencers and peer or social pressures.

With alcohol, which is a legal drug, young people are exposed to clever advertising during sport, on social media, and through outdoor billboards and transport ads.

Although drug education is unlikely to prevent every young person from ever using alcohol or other drugs, the later in life that use happens and the less frequent it is, the better the health outcomes are likely to be.

Delaying and reducing, as well as outright preventing, drug use remains a worthwhile health goal.⁷

Although information is not enough, it’s still important - and every young person has the right to know the facts.

Further information

Learn more about what schools can do through Dovetail’s ‘Alcohol and other drugs in schools’ resource, which includes information on school connectivity, policy and incident response, and education in the classroom.

Learn more about effective classroom drug education programs, such as CLIMATE schools and SHAHRP. Information is also available on the Positive Choices website.

Learn more about alcohol and other drugs by visiting The Drug Wheel.