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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not understand why harm reduction regarding drugs isn't taught in secondary school?

27 replies

janef001 · 15/02/2023 11:09

I live in Ireland and I was listening to a radio show about the government planning on decriminalizing drug use. A caller brought up a point that it's no good decriminalizing if education about drugs isn't also taught in school as well.

My teenage nephew goes to high school in the U.S. and apparently gets several class on the different classes of drugs and their effects. Now, granted he does go to a private school but I never had any of that when I was younger. Why is this not common?

OP posts:
Sucessinthenewyear · 15/02/2023 11:11

It’s standard in England. Does it not happen in Ireland?

MaryMcCarthy · 15/02/2023 11:11

I learned about drugs on the school bus, rather than at school.

Wasn't the best introduction to be honest.

If I'd learned about drugs from teachers first, would I have embarked on a decade long chronic weed habit? Maybe not. Who knows.

neverknowinglyunreasonable · 15/02/2023 11:11

Maybe cos lots of drugs have really cool effects and they are scared of kids finding that out

Comedycook · 15/02/2023 11:12

My Ds is at a state secondary in England...the school have done lots of drug awareness stuff.

kenne · 15/02/2023 11:12

It was taught in Scotland in the 90s when I was at school.

Lullabies2Paralyze · 15/02/2023 11:13

Also in England, secondary school early 2000’s and had all those say no to Frank lessons in our “guidance” (ph&e I think it was called in most places) classes.

Comefromaway · 15/02/2023 11:14

There does need to be more education.

A young person I know told me that he had taken poppers, how great they made him feel and that they were legal. Whilst trying not to be judgmental I pointed out to him that he has a known issue with his heart and that there is a specific risk to people with heart problems. He said he had no idea and thought it was "safe".

That's before you get to the illegal drugs.

ancientgran · 15/02/2023 11:15

neverknowinglyunreasonable · 15/02/2023 11:11

Maybe cos lots of drugs have really cool effects and they are scared of kids finding that out

I used to know a detective on the drug squad (RIP) he was part of a scheme for experienced detectives going into school and educating kids about drugs. He said it was stopped when it was realised that drug use was increasing after they'd been in a school.

IwasToldThereWouldBeCake · 15/02/2023 11:16

My teenage boys get taught about addiction causes and effects etc in their Irish secondary school (public).

Marblessolveeverything · 15/02/2023 11:17

It is taught in any school I know in Dublin not sure where you are?. I had lessons in late primary in the 80s and my son had lessons with the Garda, ex addicts, rehab specialists in first and second year.

MissMaple82 · 15/02/2023 11:19

Sucessinthenewyear · 15/02/2023 11:11

It’s standard in England. Does it not happen in Ireland?

Since when?

Sucessinthenewyear · 15/02/2023 12:34

I was teaching it 10 years ago. I have no idea when it became the norm. It should be on all secondary schools pshe curriculum.

PeekAtYou · 15/02/2023 12:36

They teach it in England.

Sucessinthenewyear · 15/02/2023 12:36

I was in school during the late 90s and we had some lessons on it then but they weren’t great lessons.

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 15/02/2023 12:38

I was at state school in England through the 90s and remember doing several lessons on drugs, with the different classes by law, types, effects, dangers etc.

Twentywisteria · 15/02/2023 12:40

We were taught the standard "if you take LSD you'll think you're a banana and peel all your skin off", "drug dealers give out a free sample to get you addicted", "one ecstasy pill can kill you", "cannabis is often laced with crack" bullshit.

Indáirire · 15/02/2023 12:47

@janef001 I've taught SPHE in Ireland for a few years and learning about drugs is part of the course. It's quite detailed actually. I'm a bit puzzled how you wouldn't know that.

Indáirire · 15/02/2023 12:48

It irritates me when people post bullshit about Ireland. Our curriculum is excellent, in my opinion.

BodenCardiganNot · 15/02/2023 12:51

It always amazes me when people expect schools to teach children everything. Why can't parents do it?

tenbob · 15/02/2023 12:52

Are all the posters answering ‘but it is taught’ specifically referring to harm reduction, or just drugs education in general?

because they are very different things…

Comefromaway · 15/02/2023 12:52

BodenCardiganNot · 15/02/2023 12:51

It always amazes me when people expect schools to teach children everything. Why can't parents do it?

Whilst I agree with you about some things I would say that this is a specialist area. I know that my many teens would never listen to someone as uncool as their mums and parents just don't have the training.

Mumsafan · 15/02/2023 12:58

definitely taught in UK secondary schools as part of the PHSE thing

imnotthatkindofmum · 15/02/2023 12:59

A few weeks ago we (my school I work at) had a visit from an ex addict who explained in detail with pictures what happened to his ulcerated legs. He told stories from prison and about his family disowning him. He tours schools and her's not the only one to do so. There is plenty of education going on. There's only so much schools can do between 8.30 and 3!

leithreas · 15/02/2023 13:01

I'm in Ireland and was taught this when I was in secondary. I'm in my mid 30s so it would be about 20 years ago.

YourSpleenIsDamp · 15/02/2023 13:06

I used to be a young people's substance misuse worker, and we'd go into secondary schools to teach drugs education and harm reduction. Feedback was always positive because we had useful, up to date information. Then the Tories cut the funding and we stopped. Not fair on teachers to expect them to do it, it's complex, nuanced information, and teachers shouldn't be expected to stay up to date on newer trends etc. Fucking Tories ruining everything.