As children and young adults spend a major part of their day in schools, they often look to teachers as role models. Parents and school staff are the primary sources of contact for young people seeking help or advice about drug use, so it is important that school staff are equipped with accurate information and evidence-based response strategies.

The Australian curriculum encourages learning activities where students themselves research information and think critically about the information. If you are planning your drug education classes, there are key components that can make a school-based prevention program successful: 

• RECOMMENDED

  • Interactive teaching methods
  • Delivery by trained facilitators (including teachers and trained peers)
  • Delivered via multiple, structured sessions once a week
  • Challenge misconceptions about substance use as a normative behaviour
  • Promotion of realistic perceptions of risk (including immediate and relevant consequences)
  • Opportunities to learn about and practise personal and social skills (e.g. decision-making, resistance and coping skills)

• NOT RECOMMENDED

  • Non-interactive teaching methods e.g. lecturing
  • Providing information only, particularly the use of “scare tactics”
  • Unstructured, dialogue-based sessions
  • Focusing solely on self-esteem and emotional competence
  • Focusing solely on ethical/moral values and decisions
  • Use of people with lived experience of drug and alcohol as guest speakers
  • Police officers delivering the programs

This page provides access to information and resources for teachers and their students. For more online drug education resources for school communities, visit the Positive Choices website.