A NEW programme of drug education has been created for schools in Dorset.

Dorset-based charity The Talkabout Trust has designed and piloted the drug education resources, trialling the programme with 200 children in the region.

The suite of resources has been funded by police and crime commissioner David Sidwick as part of his police and crime plan commitment to tackle addiction and substance misuse.

The materials created by The Talkabout Trust, who work with young people between the ages of nine and 25, cover issues including alcohol, Nitrous Oxide, vaping, cannabis and cannabis derivatives, MDMA and ketamine.

The project was borne out of conversations with young people expressing what they wished they had known when they were younger around these topics.

The charity then interviewed teachers and health leads in schools, developing a suite of lessons alongside a programme of training for teachers designed to maximise the potential of the education.

The programme was trialled through a short series of lessons for year 9 students which included an animated short film, teacher training, student assembly and interactive games.

Indications of behaviour changes or motivation to experiment with drugs were compared with children in two control schools who did not have the resources.

An evaluation was then carried out by the charity, experts at Bournemouth University and the University of Central London (UCL) Centre for Behaviour Change, with the improved programme set to be made available to every single secondary school across Dorset by the end of the year.

Mr Sidwick said: “I am wholeheartedly committed to tackling the devastating issue of drugs in our society.

“Alongside robust enforcement and intervention including treatment and recovery, prevention through education is crucial and that’s why I was so pleased to be able to fund this work with The Talkabout Trust.

“I know their expertise will ensure this is a project with the potential to make a big difference to the young people in Dorset.

“I would urge all secondary schools across the county to take up this vital resource as it could make a huge difference to the futures of the next generation.”

Helena Conibear, CEO of The Talkabout Trust, said: “This has been a very exciting project and would not have been possible without the support of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

“Most importantly the resources have been extensively piloted and evaluated by academic partners to help ensure that they are fit for purpose and will improve knowledge and reduce teen inclination to try illicit substances as well as nicotine.

“We were aware there was a lack of piloted or evidenced drug education in schools for young people, so this suite of lessons, fact sheets, animations, games and activities fills a much-needed gap.

“It’s a very exciting project and has the potential to make a big impact to the lives of young people.”

Alison Winsborough, deputy head at Atlantic Academy, Portland, said: “The drug education day that our Atlantic Year Nine students took part in was incredibly powerful. The materials were extremely well pitched, informative and extremely current.

“While the sessions were expertly delivered, the resources are put together in such a way that we have every confidence that our staff will be able to use them and deliver high quality sessions in future.”