Engaging students in alcohol and other drug (AOD) education can help shape their attitudes and behaviours toward AOD, now and in the future.
It can also help them develop strategies for risky situations, and empower them to make safer and healthier choices.1, 2
Creating an inclusive school culture and positive student experiences, along with having a comprehensive AOD policy in place, are crucial in promoting healthier AOD behaviours.3, 4
A ‘whole of school’ approach recognises that student health and wellbeing can be influenced by many complex and overlapping factors.
For example, having good relationships with peers, teachers, coaches, school counsellors and nurses can impact a young person’s development.3, 5
Students who feel connected at school and have positive role models may also be less likely to experience harms from alcohol and other drugs.3, 5
A good school culture can have other positive benefits, such as reducing bullying and increasing physical activity.6
A ‘whole of school’ approach includes having policies in place for the management of any alcohol or other drug-related incidents. This is looked at in more detail below.
This type of approach also works well alongside evidence-based drug education programs.
What makes a good school drug education program?
Programs that have good evidence behind them typically:
Programs that are less effective often:
School policies should discourage drug use while also taking a non-punitive approach to any incidents of students or staff using AOD at school.7, 8
A good policy will usually have a number of these key elements:
Vaping has become a concern for many schools. Educators may be interested in providing vaping information or education to their students, staff and parents.
Because the issue is relatively new, there’s a lack of school education programs that have been properly evaluated and show evidence of effectiveness.9
But some current evidence-based drug education programs may now offer vaping content as part of their modules. And some have created new modules for e-cigarettes and vaping.