Drug education: A resource guide

Content

Indigenous-specific resources

Programs and strategies

National Drug Strategy Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples' Complementary Action Plan 2003 - 2006
The National Drug Strategy Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Complementary Action Plan 2003-2006 provides a nationally coordinated and integrated approach to reduce drug-related harm among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.

Classroom materials

Indigenous Drug Education Support Materials
The Indigenous Drug Education Support Materials resource has been developed primarily for Indigenous school communities as part of the NT National School Drug Education Strategy Project and contains materials for teachers and students. We gratefully acknowledge the Northern Territory Education Department for their permission to reproduce and distribute these resources here.

This material was developed for the Northern Territory and its curriculum framework. Despite this, South Australian educators, particularly those in remote settings, will find much that may be useful.

The support material
The content has been targeted for students in Early Childhood - Transition to Grade 3, Middle Primary - Grades 4/5, and Upper Primary - Grades 6/7 because many children are exposed to drug issues from an early age.

Trialing with older students indicated that the materials are also relevant if adapted and modified to suit students' age and literacy skills.

Scaffolding support may be needed to help students understand concepts and develop their literacy skills. The teacher is seen as pivotal in this teaching/learning process.

Content
The support materials incorporate a series of interrelated topics such as Who I Am, My Community, The Body, Food, Physical Activity, Drugs an Overview, Tobacco, Cannabis, Alcohol, Petrol Sniffing and Resilience.

At the beginning of each topic is a series of lesson guidelines for early, middle and upper primary students. The guidelines are to assist teachers in the delivery of this drug education program.

Learning outcomes (what students will know, understand or be able to do) are stated at the beginning of each learning activity. Students are expected to achieve the outcomes following their involvement in the learning experiences.

There is a range of learning experiences included for students to work through with the teachers' assistance. You can choose what activities you will do and you may like to involve students in this process. There are no time limits, and teachers may find it easier to integrate some of the topics with English and Studies of Society and Environment. Information is also included in the learning experiences to assist teachers' understanding of the key concepts.

Focus questions have been incorporated into each learning activity as a guide. Again, important information follows each question to help direct student learning.

Downloading
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Introduction
Cultural considerations, process, assessment.
Size: 447KB

Topic 1: Information about the main characters for teachers and students
Size: 800KB

Topic 2: Who am I?
Teacher notes, student activities
Size: 1836KB

Topic 3: My community
Teacher notes, student activities
Size: 2888KB

Topic 4: The body
Teacher notes
Size: 6628KB
Student activities
Size: 4547KB

Topic 5: Food
Teacher notes, student activities
Size: 5469KB

Topic 6: Physical activity
Teacher notes, students activities
Size: 3951KB

Topic 7: Resilience: Staying strong
Teacher notes, student activities
Size: 5774KB

Topic 8: Drugs - An overview
Teacher notes, student activities
Size: 5539KB

Topic 9: Tobacco
Teacher notes, student activities
Size: 5666KB

Topic 10: Cannabis
Teacher notes, student activities
Size: 2918KB

Topic 11: Alcohol
Teacher notes, student activities
Size: 4503KB

Topic 12: Petrol sniffing
Teacher notes, student activities
Size: 5732KB

Bibliography: References and resources
Size: 447KB

Healing Time - Drug Education Resources for Aboriginal Students
Healing Time Stages 2 and 3 drug education resource for Aboriginal students has been developed to address the drug education needs of all students, particularly Aboriginal students, in primary school. The resource specifically addresses tobacco issues within an Aboriginal cultural framework and aims to:

• engage all students, staff and the school community
  
• provide students with knowledge and understanding of the effects of smoking and skills to advocate against smoking within an Aboriginal cultural framework.

Healing Time, Stages 2 and 3 has been distributed to all NSW government primary schools. For further information contact Drug Prevention Programs on 02 9246 5570. The resource can be purchased from DET Sales on 02 9793 3086 for a cost of $55.

From Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council (SA)

Posters
A set of five posters from Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council (SA) Inc. designed by Primary School children that address issues relating to alcohol and other substance use.

Drugs Leave them alone (105kb)

Drugs don't start - they tear you apart (103kb)

Collage of messages (140kb)

One small thrill (109kb)

Just say no! (073kb)

Hepatitis C Poster (188kb)

Leaflets
From Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council (SA) Inc.

Grief and trauma children	Grief and trauma Telling your story	Grief and trauma Sorry business

Petrol Sniffing Manual	Petrol Sniffing Video ADAC’s highly successful Petrol Sniffing and Other Solvents Manual now has a useful companion.
Illicit Drug Use Helpcard	The Brain Story
Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Foetal Alcohol Effects

Aboriginal health materials from the Northern Territory
The Curriculum Branch of the NT Department of Education have available a range of Aboriginal health education materials that they have produced as part of the ICCAS initiative (Implementing Common Curriculum in Aboriginal Schools). The materials are aimed at primary school level students and address a variety of health issues that are significant to Aboriginal communities.

The topic areas addressed are: Healthy Ears; Tobacco; Food for Fun and Health; Alcohol Awareness; Germs and Parasites; The Sniffing Story; Safety (road, electricity, water, fire, poisons, rubbish); Feeling Good About Myself and Healthy Relationships.

All the materials focus on the "Health Start Model" (Focus-Experience-Reflect-Record-Action-Assess-Evaluate) as the nucleus for the delivery of health education to students. The Health Start Model is explained at the beginning of every topic.

Teachers are provided with a Teacher's Guide for every topic and this is usually accompanied by a separate storybook which provides a trigger for discussion. The Teacher's Guides include Lesson Plans and Student Resource and Activity sheets for duplicating. All these components are very user friendly.

Teachers in WA who have used the NT materials have reported that there is enough common ground between the NT and WA context to make these resources a valuable teaching tool in Aboriginal communities.

If you want to find out more about these materials contact the Curriculum Support Officer, Curriculum Branch, NT Dept. of Education (08 8999 6976)


Drug information in regards Aboriginal and Islander Peoples

General

Australian Drug Foundation library listing

Substance abuse listing at Indigenous.gov.au

Substance use
HealthInfoNet

Indigenous communities
Australian Drug Information Network

National Drug Strategy household survey : urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples supplement 1994
The 1994 survey of drug use among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is part of the series of National Drug Strategy household surveys, which are conducted periodically to evaluate elements of the National Drug Strategy.

Statewide Substance Misuse/Injecting Drug Use Report
The aim of this project was to conduct a statewide investigation into the educational needs of rural Aboriginal communities of South Australia in relation to injecting drug use and blood borne viruses.

National Drug Strategy Household Survey - Urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Supplement 1994
The 1994 survey of drug use among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is part of the series of National Drug Strategy household surveys, which are conducted periodically to evaluate elements of the National Drug Strategy.

Tobacco

NSW Quit Campaign Fact Sheet for Aboriginal Smokers
This fact sheet with statistics on numbers of smokers, health problems and quitting rates within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders was prepared by the New South Wales Quit Campaign and is reproduced here on the website of the Non Smoker's Movement of Australia.

Indigenous Australians and Tobacco: a literature review
The use of tobacco is a major cause of premature mortality and morbidity among Indigenous people in Australia. The life expectancy of Indigenous Australians in 1992–1994 was 15–20 years less than that of the general population. Much of this difference was due to high rates of cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease and other diseases related to tobacco. Few health programs have addressed tobacco use among Indigenous people. There has been little or no evaluation of such programs and little formal research about Indigenous people and their use of tobacco.

Inhalants

Petrol sniffing among Aboriginals: Differing social meanings
One of the major health and social issues facing young Aboriginal people in Australia today is the use of volatile solvents. The substance of choice for adolescent Aborigines in rural and remote regions of the country is petrol (gasoline), primarily because of its ready availability (every remote community requires petrol for vehicles, outboards, generators), cheapness (it can be stolen, or purchased in small quantities) and the rapidity of mood alteration its inhalation produces. While the number of individuals using petrol as an inhalant constitute a tiny proportion of the overall Australian population, and even of the Aboriginal population, they are, as Carroll has noted ‘a population which may have impact beyond their numbers’.

Petrol sniffing and other solvents - a community resource
The Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council of South Australia Inc. has produced this manual covering all aspects of petrol sniffing and other solvent use in Indigenous communities. The manual consists of a number of booklets which contain basic health information, examples of successful programs, teaching resources and information about where to go for further assistance.

Development of a Manual for the Detoxification and Treatment of Aboriginal Solvent Use
This review examines issues such as solvent use, petrol sniffing in Australia, prevalence and patterns of use and reasons for beginning petrol sniffing. It also discusses the effects of petrol sniffing on the user as well as the consequences for families and communities.

An end to petrol sniffing
Petrol sniffing has been present in a minority of remote Australian Aboriginal communities for over 25 years and has also been reported among the youth of other indigenous groups. Although many interventions have been attempted, those Aboriginal communities where the practice has been entrenched continue to be affected by social upheaval, while petrol sniffers themselves often interact heavily with the juvenile justice system.

Volatile substances (time for policy makers to take a deep breath)
The term 'inhalants' is often used to describe volatile substances that can be inhaled to induce a psychoactive or mind-altering effect. A broad range of chemicals, found in hundreds of different household products are misused as inhalants. These can be found in supermarkets, newsagencies, and hardware stores and include glue, petrol, paint, dry cleaning fluid and aerosols such as hairspray and deodorant. The response to inhalant misuse requires commitment and participation at Commonwealth, state and local levels, and partnership with professionals and with communities.

Inhalant use in Australia: An overview
Inhalants are products that are composed of volatile solvents and substances commonly found in glue, paint, cleaning solutions, lighter fluids and petrol. This makes inhalants an easily accessible and a low cost drug to obtain. This paper will explore the patterns of inhalant use in Australia, in particular focusing on the characteristics of users such as age, gender, Indigenous status, and attitudes towards inhalant use. The paper will also outline current legislation on the sale, distribution and use of inhalants in each jurisdiction.

Other drugs, other people, other places: The policy response to Indigenous petrol sniffing in Australia
Despite its having been identified several decades ago as a form of inhalant misuse associated with significant personal, family and community harms, petrol sniffing in Australia has not to date met with a coherent policy response. This paper reports on a project currently underway which seeks to identify the reasons why this is so, by examining a number of past episodes in which petrol sniffing has gained a place on the public policy agenda of one or more Governments.

Inhalant policy: What can we learn from the National Drug Strategy?
Inhalation of a wide range of volatile substances for their psychoactive properties has a long history and concern regarding volatile substance use has recurred in a cyclical fashion throughout the 20th Century and into the 21st Century. This concern has largely focused on use by adolescents and children who, in modern times, are the group most likely to engage in volatile substance abuse.

Inhalant use in Australia: A historical perspective
In 1984, Jan Oswald's son Sean died of solvent abuse. He sniffed a product called Skefron and died during his second sniffing experiment. Skefron, now off the market, was 100% chlorofluorocarbon. It was known as 'the magic spray' as it produced an 'instant ice' feeling when sprayed on sprains and other sports injuries. Jan, with her husband John (deceased) formed SOS (Save Our Sons) and with a network of other parents of deceased and damaged young persons, lobbied the Government for product bans, better labelling and public education. Jan gained the support of the Australian Consumers Association, where her concerns found common cause with the organisation's existing hazardous products campaign.

Mother's crying out for help
'It all began in Christmas 2000. I received a phone call from a friend who worked for Juvenile Justice who had observed three young Aboriginal children sniffing spray paint behind the local Vincent State School. She told her employer who in turn contacted other Government and non-Government agencies: Juvenile Aid Bureau, Department of Family and Community Services, State Police and Police Liaison Officers.'

Volatile substance misuse: A community engagement strategy
The Commission for Children and Young People commenced research on the issue of volatile substance misuse (VSM, or 'inhalant misuse') in Queensland in late 2001, after being approached by some young people who wanted to know how they could prevent their siblings from getting involved in this dangerous practice. Since that time, there has been widespread acknowledgment that VSM has become a growing problem in Queensland in the past 18 months, particularly among young people.

'Just a dirty kind of drug': Young people's perceptions of chroming
This paper reports on initial findings of a larger study of the social meanings of inhalant use (IU) in Victoria. It draws on data gathered through in-depth interviews with two groups of people. These are: a small sample of young people who used inhalants within the six months prior to interview, and a further small sample of youth workers who are experienced in working with inhalant users. The paper briefly considers three issues: the experience of IU, whether users consider inhalants to be gutter drugs, and their perceptions of the risks associated with use. In conclusion, some suggestions are made about implications of the distaste and disgust which is widely expressed in relation to IU for the development of educational and other interventions.

Our kids matter: Paint sniffing: The Charter Towers story
Addressing the issue of inhalant abuse in Charters Towers has been an exercise in community engagement and participation. The core philosophy has been to promote community ownership of the issue and to actively involve those most affected i.e. the youth exhibiting the behaviours, and their families and friends.

Equipping people to make a difference: Shared learning and shared experiences
This paper presents an overview of 22 Inhalant Abuse workshops that were delivered in Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan, Toowoomba, Bundaberg, Cherbourg and New Zealand during 2000 to 2003. The target audiences for these workshops were people working in Youth Agencies, Health Services, Police Services, Rehabilitation agencies, Church Ministries and Community support groups. Initially, the workshop was developed as partnership between DRUG-ARM and Queensland Health - West Moreton Region.

Chroming and harm minimisation
Alcohol and other drug risk assessment is concerned with the relationship between the degree of potentially harmful consequences of substance use and the probability of that harm occurring. Appropriate responding to volatile substance abuse is complicated by the dearth of available pharmacodynamic information on volatile substance abuse (even basic texts on principals of drug action generally dedicate only a few pages to the issue), and an increasingly risk aversive society. This workshop paper investigates other factors that impact on probability of harm occurring such as the function, purpose and meaning of use, and the role of developmentally appropriate tasks that entail risk taking and experimentation.

Volatile substance use in Mount Isa: Community solutions to a community identified issue
In November 2001 a forum for Government and non-Government service providers and community members was held to raise awareness of the problem and to begin to effectively and appropriately address this self-harm issue in the community of Mount Isa. Figures provided by the Queensland Police Service along with anecdotal evidence from youth workers indicated that there were approximately fifty young people (aged between 8 and 16) regularly participating in this self-harming practice with at least twenty five of these identified young people classed as chronic misusers.

Alcohol

The Bush Book: Alcohol and other drugs
The Public Health Bush Book is a resource for all community health care providers who want to strengthen their health promotion and disease prevention practice. It has been written specifically for teams who work with Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory.

Aborigines who abstain from alcohol
In separate studies, samples of Aboriginal males and females aged 15 years and over were recruited from patients attending the Aboriginal Medical Services in Perth and Carnarvon, Western Australia. Data were examined for differences and similarities between lifetime abstainers, former drinkers (abstinent for one year or longer), and hazardous or harmful drinkers. Interpretation of the statistical analyses was supported by qualitative data, and qualitative analytic methods were used to illuminate the process of cessation of drinking.

An alcohol treatment program for an Aboriginal community in the Kimberley region of Western Australia
Halls Creek is a town in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia, with a population of 3,070 persons, of whom nearly 2,000 are Aboriginal. Fifty two percent of the adult Aboriginal population drink alcohol, most of whom drink at levels which is harmful to their health. The consequences of this ‘problem drinking’ has resulted in high mortality, increased morbidity, serious deterioration in social well-being, cultural degradation and a high incidence of crime and family dysfunction. There is a high awareness of the problem in the community and a willingness to address the issue.

Cannabis

Rising cannabis use in Indigenous communities

Injecting drugs

The harm reduction needs of Aboriginal people who inject drugs
The aims of the study were to estimate how many Aboriginal people are injecting drugs and what services are needed to lessen the harms experienced by Aboriginal people who inject drugs.

Review of Literature on Injecting Drug Use Within Urban Indigenous Communities
There are very few studies that provide concrete data on Indigenous injecting drug use, and in the last decade there has been research undertaken in only three states that specifically look at Indigenous injecting drug use. Individual communities generally know which aspects of drug use need to be addressed in their community and which approach will work for them. By addressing injecting drug use within Aboriginal communities the results of harmful using can be reduced.

Investigating the Impact of Injecting Drug Use in Indigenous Communities In Metropolitan Adelaide
In 2001, Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council (SA) conducted the largest single study of Indigenous people who inject drugs in Australia. This report has been produced to provide a summary of the aims and objectives of the project, and a brief description of the main findings and preliminary recommendations.

Using Rapid Assessment Methodology to Examine Injecting Drug Use in an Aboriginal Community
The aims of this study were to identify information about the patterns of drug use, and the harms associated with injecting drug use, on those who used and the community as a whole.

Research and reference websites
Resource related to Aboriginal people and substance abuse from the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Website.

Indigenous communities information at Australian Drug Information Network.

Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal and Tropical Health website
T he Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal and Tropical Health (CRCATH) is one of more than 60 CRCs set up by the Commonwealth Government to strengthen links between industry, research bodies, educational institutions and government agencies.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet
From the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Clearinghouse at Edith Cowan University, Western Australia. This site covers a wide range of issues of relevance to Indigenous health, many of which lie outside the direct responsibility of the health sector. These include cultural, social, historical and economic issues, as well as those relating to the physical environment. Also includes an electronic health publication (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Bulletin), information on specific health conditions and diseases, state by state information and statistics.

General resources

Education systems initiatives

National
School Drug Education
Department of Education, Science and Training

Resilience Education and Drug Information
This DEST website contains a comprehensive database of information about resources, policies and materials for drug education and incident management.

Australian Capital Territory
Drug Education

New South Wales
Drug Education
NSW Department of Education and Training

Drug Education
Catholic Education Centre

Queensland
Drug education

South Australia
DECS Drug Strategy

Tasmania
Drug Education

Victoria
Drug Education
Department of Education and Training

Western Australia
School Drug Education Project
Department of Education, Western Australia

Classroom materials

REDI resources
The REDI (Resilience Education and Drug Information) resources are the first national set of drug education resources to focus on resilience building. Recent research confirms the critical role teachers and schools play in protecting young people against drug use and other possible health risks.

These resources have been distributed to all schools.

Download the REDI resources fact sheet in PDF format.

Visit the REDI website.

	The Big Move (10-12 years) The Big Move tells the story of Ruben, Carla and their father, Leo, who are moving to a new town. The video takes place before the move. It raises issues about change and peer pressure, particularly around negotiating relationships with friends and family. In this context issues around alcohol and tobacco are raised. The CD-ROM continues the story of the family after the move, as Ruben and Carla negotiate new people and situations in New Town. The CD-ROM also explores health issues related to alcohol, tobacco and caffeine.
	My TV (12-14 years) The My TV video is a drama about a group of Year 10 students exploring issues of drug use, in particular alcohol, tobacco and cannabis through the use of drama. The drama is intercut with ‘vox pops’ - interviews with young people. In the My TV CD-ROM, students ‘join’ the My TV production team and put together an episode of My TV. They select or come up with a problem, evaluate the issues, choose appropriate video clips of opinions from interviews with experts and young people, browse relevant internet sites and construct their own advice in response to the selected problem.
	On the Edge (15-18 years) The On the Edge resources explore issues for young people who will be leaving school and entering the world of work or further study. These issues include balancing study, work and social life, dealing with stress, increasing independence and looking to the future. The video features a series of interviews with young people (year 12 - early 20’s) as they reflect on how they have learned to deal with challenges and problems. The CD-ROM features interviews and provides information via links to websites and other activities.

• Be delivered as a whole school workshop;
  
• Support understanding and consideration of a resilience approach to the school’s drug education strategies and programs; and
  
• Provide a context of understanding within the school about how to use each of the REDI resources to support drug education strategies and programs.

• Be delivered as a workshop across the school or region for teachers involved in drug education related activities; and
  
• Support the use of interactive and inclusive strategies in the classroom to promote learning, resilience and wellbeing within drug education related activities.

• Support those who may not have participated in school-based staff development workshops – the CD-ROM provides ready access to key information, resources and strategies within the REDI approach;
  
• Support further self-development and enrichment of concepts and principles from the other REDI professional development resources/workshops; and
  
• Support those who are facilitating REDI for school communities and/or REDI for the classroom by providing background material on resilience and drug education to help inform their workshop delivery.

Get Real - A Harm Minimisation Approach To Drug Education, was developed by the Drug Education Support For Schools Project (DESS). It consists of a number of booklets that provide advice and assistance to schools for responding to drug-related student welfare and addressing curriculum needs. The resource was first published in 1995.

Get Real consists of the following components:

• A Harm-minimisation Approach to Drug Education
• Drug Information for Teachers
• Lesson Materials for Primary Schools
• Lesson Materials for Secondary Schools
• Alcohol Education Materials (Years 8-10)
• Tobacco Education Materials (Years 6-8)
• Drug Related Student Welfare: Critical Incidents in Primary Schools
• Drug Related Critical Incidents: Guidelines for Secondary Schools
• Drug Related Student Welfare: Identification, Monitoring and Intervention
• Parent Forums (practical advice for teachers on how to run a parent forum).

To order a copy of Get Real, e-mail the Curriculum Corporation at sales@curriculum.edu.au or fax 9639 1616.

For enquires e-mail millar.julie.r@edumail.vic.gov.au or fax to (03) 9637 2030.

Get Wise - Working On Illicits In School Education

Get Wise has been developed as a response to the following recommendation from the Premier's Drug Advisory Council,: 'The council is aware that quality material exists regarding licit drugs and believes that this should be expanded to effectively address illicit drugs'.

Get Wise was designed to complement and extend the curriculum and welfare approach of Get Real with a focus on illicit drug issues.

Get Wise consists of the following components:

• Communicating with Parents - Schools' guide to working with parents
• Principal's Guide - Designed to guide the decision making processes in the areas of curriculum, policy, welfare, and parent, community and media liaison
• Secondary Classroom Activities - Fourteen activities linked to the key learning area of health and physical education. Includes brochures for student use
• Primary Classroom Activities - Five activities linked to the key learning area of health and physical education. Includes brochures for student use
• A-Z of Illicit Drugs - An information compendium designed to increase teacher knowledge about drug issues and drug education
• Student Welfare Action Manual - A guide for school personnel responding to drug-related welfare issues.

To order a copy of Get Real, e-mail the Curriculum Corporation at sales@curriculum.edu.au or fax 9639 1616.

For enquires e-mail millar.julie.r@edumail.vic.gov.au or fax to (03) 9637 2030.

Primary Steps

Primary Steps is a drug education program written for students between 5 to 14 years of age. It helps students explore health and safety issues for themselves and others, the school environment, and the implications of drug use within the broader community.

Primary Steps comprises 6 sections:

1. The context of drug education, the role of the primary school and recommended education practice.
2. Classroom activities and more than 30 drug education lessons.
3. Parent participation in drug education.
4. Dealing with drug incidents at school.
5. Developing a drug policy.
6. Supporting materials to provide teachers with information about drugs, HIV and police powers.

All lessons are aligned to the HPE National Curriculum Frameworks and the Victorian Curriculum Standards Frameworks. Available from:

Australian Drug Foundation
PO Box 818
NORTH MELBOURNE VIC 3051
Freecall 1800 069 700
$95 plus $10 handling

Values in education: classroom curriculum package and Values in education: school planning curriculum package
Jane Grellier and Karen Caple

The major strength of this two part curriculum package lies in its ability to assist schools wishing to use a whole-school approach to values education. Developed as a part of the National Professional Development Program (NPDP), it has input from all sectors of the Western Australian education community.

The Classroom curriculum package is designed to assist teachers to integrate values into educational content and processes in their classrooms.

The School planning curriculum package is designed to assist a school community to identify values important to the whole school and integrate them into all aspects of school life.

Available from:

AISWA (Association of Independent Schools of WA)
Suite 3 41 Walters Drive
OSBORNE PARK WA 6017
Ph: 9244 2788
Fax: 9244 2786
Email: aiswa@ais.wa.edu.au
Cost: $110 for two files

Sites for young people

Drinking choices
Fact and figures about alcohol consumption, advice on safe drinking and links to other sites of interest to young people. Produced by the Australian Department of Health and Ageing.

Drugaware
For information on drug awareness including: cannabis, cocaine, speed, heroin, and other designer drugs, plus information on events and competitions, hot issues ...

Drughit
'Drughit' has been created by DRUGinfo, the Australian Drug Foundation's community drug information service, as an environment where young people can find out about drugs.

OxyGen
The OxyGen web site was created and funded by Quit SA, Smarter than Smoking Project (WA), and Quit Victoria. It aims to promote and encourage healthy lifestyle choices and provide information on the impact of tobacco.

Reach Out!
Reach Out! is a web-based service that inspires young people to help themselves through tough times.

SomaZone
Provides questions and answers related to a range of legal and illegal drugs.

The Source: Drugs and alcohol
An e-zine page linking to a selection of online resources aimed at young people.

Urge/Whakamanawa
Urge/Whakamanawa is information and games aimed at young adults from The Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand.

Youth Health Site
Health information, topics, stories and tips for young people 12 to 25 years including a section of drugs and alcohol. A section of the Child and Youth Health website.

Overseas material

National Institute of Drug Abuse
Please note: The National Institute of Drug Abuse is an organisation in the United States. Much of the material below focusses on the effects of drug use upon the body and as such may be useful to Australian educators. However sections of some material may be unsuitable for local settings. If used you may wish to encourage students to apply critical thinking techniques to deconstruct their position.

Student information
Sara's Quest
Sara's Quest has been developed for use in schools or in the home for children to learn about the effects of drugs on their brain and body.

Mind Over Matter
This series is designed to encourage young people in the middle years of school to learn about the effects of drug abuse on the body and the brain.

Brain Power! The NIDA Junior Scientist Program
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has developed science education materials for students in their middle years of primary school on the brain and the effects of drugs on the brain. The curriculum is titled Brain Power! The NIDA Junior Scientist Program and consists of six modules. The goal of the curriculum is to lay the foundation for future scientific learning and substance abuse prevention efforts by providing an early elementary school-age audience with a basis of knowledge and critical thinking skills.

Teacher information
Slide Teaching Packets
Designed for teachers the titles of these downloadable colour slide sets include: The Brain and the Actions of Cocaine, Opiates, and Marijuana, The Neurobiology of Drug Addiction, Understanding Drug Abuse and Addiction: What Science Says, The Neurobiology of Ecstasy (MDMA)

Mind Over Matter Teacher's Guide
This is the teacher's guide for the "Mind Over Matter" series, a neuroscience education series, developed by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), a component of the National Institutes of Health. It is designed to encourage youngsters in the middle years of school to learn about the biological effects of drug abuse on the body and the brain.

The Global Youth Network
Using Performance for Substance Abuse Prevention
English (PDF-1,150KB)

Using Sport for Drug Abuse Prevention
English (PDF-2,787KB)

Using The Internet for Drug Abuse Prevention
English (PDF-2,644KB)

Using Peer to Peer Strategies in Drug Abuse Prevention
English (PDF-1,129KB)

Equal Partners
Often, you will find that you may need to organize a youth event as part of your project. These are important opportunities to genuinely empower youth and allow them to develop a stake in your success. For this reason, we have also developed a guide on organizing for-youth-by-youth events.
English (PDF-904KB)