DRUGS STRATEGY FOR ABERDEEN CITY

Drugs education is seen by Aberdeen City Council as an extremely important issue within  both a city and a national context.  Work within school and Community Education contexts on drug-related issues in Aberdeen is currently covered by the following policies and guidelines

• Staff Guidelines for work with drug users in the community - approved by Grampian Regional Council Community Education Sub-committee
• Policy on Drug-related incidents in schools - approved by Grampian Regional Council Education Committee
• Policy and Handbook on Guidance in secondary schools (including guidelines on Personal and Social Education) - approved by Grampian Regional Council Education Committee
• Health Education Policy - approved by Grampian Regional Council Education Committee

In considering drugs education and prevention, the Education Department has taken account of the work of two important coordinating groups:

• The Drugs Strategy Task Group (Aberdeen City Council)
• The Aberdeen City Drugs Action Team (city-wide inter-agency group)

Aberdeen City Council expressed an early commitment to tackling drugs issues by establishing a Drugs Strategy Task Group, on which the Education Department was represented.  On 27 March 1997, The Community Development Committee approved a Drugs Strategy Framework which calls on the Education Department in common with all other council departments to identify their contributions to the overall council drugs strategy.

The Drugs Strategy Framework outlines five main development areas for the Council:

• drug education
• targeting young people at high risk
• community development
• liaison and co-ordination
• staff support and training

A Drugs Strategy Reference Group brings staff from Council departments together to improve cross-departmental communication and co-operation and to assist in monitoring the drugs strategy.  An Education Adviser and a Community Education Team Leader take part in this group.

The Aberdeen City Drug Action Team (DAT) comprises representatives of elected members of Aberdeen City Council, of the departments of Aberdeen City Council, Grampian Health Board and the agencies in Aberdeen which are concerned with drugs education, drug use and drug abuse.  The purpose of the Aberdeen City Drug Action Team is to lead and coordinate the prevention and reduction of drug misuse and its harmful affects on the people of Aberdeen.  Representatives of the Education Department have contributed comprehensively to the work of the Drug Action Team.

The Aberdeen City Drug Action Team has drawn up Strategy 1998-2001, which is the basis for action within the city.

The City Council's Drugs Strategy Framework and the Drugs Action Team's Strategy 1998-2001 are complementary documents which have similar implications for the Education Department.

WHAT SCHOOLS DO AT PRESENT

Drugs education in Aberdeen City schools is part of an overall programme of Personal and Social Education (PSE), which includes activities concerned with self-esteem and self-awareness, qualities and skills for personal and social development, decision-making, health education and drugs education.

All schools have a PSE programme based on the needs of young people at different stages of their development.  The authority has a well-documented developmental approach to PSE clearly described in the guidance policy and handbook for secondary schools, the principles of which are equally applicable to primary schools.  Schools use various materials for drugs education which have been produced or recommended specifically for Scottish schools.

While there may be differences of detail among different schools’ programmes, they are all based on the principles of progression related to personal development as applied to the needs of pupils in each school.  Many topics are revisited at different times in young people's education in ways that are appropriate to their level of maturity.

In addition to elements of a PSE programme which specifically mention drugs, much of what is done in PSE on attitude and skills development relates to drugs education.

WHAT COMMUNITY EDUCATION DOES AT PRESENT

Community Education, through its Youth Work programme, carries out preventative work with non-drug users through informal education programmes encompassing group work and some peer education initiatives.  A key focus of the general youth work programme is personal development in areas such as self-esteem and decision-making skills.

Community Education employs a harm minimisation approach with drug users including the provision of information, advice and referral to specific agencies.  There is some detached work and diversionary activities, advocacy and counselling at varying levels across the city.

Work with adults includes drugs awareness work with parents, the development of parent support groups (non-drug specific) and drugs awareness training for local activists.

Community Education undertake a key role in educational support for community development - developing the knowledge and confidence of communities to respond to drugs issues and providing community development support to community-based initiatives by adults and young people.
 

  This page was last updated on 01 October 2007 11:37 +0100