A free course will be offered to St Wolstan's parents in April. The Community Awareness of Drugs programme is a series of six two hour sessions. To avail of a place, contact Lindsay at 087 943 5900.
Brief session-by-session outline: ‘Drugs and their Effects’ Programme
These sessions
are interactive and to a degree, with the possible exception of session one,
are driven by the requirements of the participating group. While all of the topics mentioned are
covered, the flexibility of the programme allows it to be tailored to respond
to local needs. As such content may vary
from week to week.
Session One:
This is an introductory session in which
participants are introduced to each other, to CAD, the programme rationale and given an overview of the issues covered throughout the six sessions. Using a
short quiz the participants can informally evaluate their own level of
knowledge and examine their attitudes to issues relating to substance misuse.
Session Two:
This session examines the definition of a
drug, drug misuse, patterns of drug use and the effects of misuse on
individuals and society. We look at reasons for drug misuse and discuss how
parents and carers can positively influence young people in their choices and
lifestyles. To help discuss extended family members in general terms information
is given on the school based Walk Tall and On MY Own Two Feet programmes as
well as the Garda JLO scheme and other interventions. Discussion around
prevention in the home is initiated with information on the misuse of over the
counter (OTC) and prescribed drugs, together with solvents and tobacco.
Session Three:
This session deals
with the issue of alcohol. The Irish licensing laws come up for discussion.
Depending on the local situation this session may occasionally be very
youth-focussed with the genetic factor, learned behaviours, Foetal Alcohol
Syndrome (FAS), alcohol related problems including alcohol dependence amongst the
elderly all the subject of debate. The concept of the Wheel
of Change may be introduced at the end of this session, time permitting.
Session Four:
Magic mushrooms, acid, cannabis, head shop
products and amphetamines are all discussed during this session. These drugs
are looked at from the point of view of the law, the physical and mental
consequences of using the drugs, plus current research and debate. Issues related
to getting along with young people are continually interspersed throughout the
sessions as are developmental milestones of adolescence.
Session Five:
The Dance Drugs,
e.g. Ecstasy, Ketamine and GHB, both their effects and the risks associated
with their use are part of the focus of this session. Discussions on Cocaine, its availability,
prevalence of use and acceptability by some sections of society also come up
for discussion. Heightening awareness of opiate use, its risks, effects and
consequences are also covered.
Session Six:
During the final session, in order to fill in
any gaps participants are given a number of scenarios in which they are asked
to discuss various drug related problems and how they would deal with them:
small group discussion is followed by feedback to whole group. This can trigger
discussion on the importance of early intervention, harm reduction and
treatment options. Helpline numbers for local and national support services are
circulated to participants. Evaluation
of the programme and presentation of certificates concludes the programme.
