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DRUG EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS, 2002/2003

23 September, 2003

A Scottish Executive National Statistics Publication

This document is also available in pdf format (276k)

The results of the fourth annual survey on drug education in schools are published today by the Scottish Executive Education Department.

Information was collected on the drug education provided by all schools in Scotland. Each school was required to give details of whether they provided drug education, what type of drug education they provided and their procedures for managing incidents of drug misuse and tobacco smoking.

Responses were obtained from 99 per cent of local authority schools and 94 per cent of all other schools.

The main findings are:

• In 2002/03, 99 per cent of schools in Scotland provided drug education, compared to 98 per cent in 2001/02. The figure is 100% for Local Authority primary and secondary schools but is lower for special schools and non LA schools. (Table 1)
• In 2002/03, 99 per cent of schools provided education on controlled drugs (compared with 98 per cent for 2001/02) and this had also increased for all other types of drug education (the safe use of medicine, alcohol, tobacco and solvents). (Table 1)
• Ninety-eight per cent of schools provided drug education to each pupil at some point during their schooling, and 97 per cent said that each pupil will receive drug education which provides progression and continuity throughout their schooling (compared with 97 per cent and 94 per cent respectively for 2001/02). 94 per cent of schools reported providing drug education that was in line with current national advice. (Table 1)
• Fifty-six per cent of schools with drug education programmes had revised them within the last two years, and a further 40 per cent within the last two to five years. (Table 2)
• In 2002/03, 84 per cent of schools had written procedures for managing incidents of drug misuse that are in line with current national advice. These proportions were 83 per cent for primary schools, 90 per cent for secondary schools and 87 per cent for special schools. Local authority schools were more likely than other schools to have such procedures. (Table 3)
• Seventy-two per cent of schools with written procedures for managing incidents of drug misuse had revised them within the last two years, and a further 26 per cent within the last two to five years. (Table 4)
• Fifty-nine per cent of schools had written procedures for managing incidents of tobacco smoking by pupils and 79 per cent by other school users e.g. teachers and visitors (compared with 51 per cent and 73 per cent respectively in 2001/02). Primary schools were less likely than other schools to have such procedures for pupils. (Table 5)
• Eighty-nine per cent of schools reported that they had access to a health education co-ordinator (compared with 87% in 2001/02). (Table 5)
• All local authority primary schools in 20 authorities reported that each pupil will receive drug education which provides progression and continuity and that all types of drug education were covered. In other local authorities, the vast majority of primary schools said that they provided each form of drug education.

The following tables are available:

Table 1 - Schools which provide drug education and the types of drug education involved, 2002/03
Table 2 - Schools which provide drug education by when programme was last revised, 2002/03.
Table 3 - Schools with written procedures for managing incidents of drug misuse, 2002/03.
Table 4 - Schools with written procedures for managing incidents of drug misuse by when last revised, 2002/03.
Table 5 - Schools with written procedures for managing incidents of tobacco smoking, 2002/03.
Table 6 - Local authority primary schools which provide drug education and the types of drug education involved, 2002/03.

BACKGROUND NOTES

1. The survey covers all primary, secondary and special schools but not pre-school education centres. The results exclude responses from a small number of special schools for whom provision of drug education is not appropriate for some or all of their pupils, due to complex learning difficulties.

2. For the purposes of this survey, drugs are defined as mood changing substances including medicine, alcohol, tobacco, solvents and controlled drugs such as, for example, cannabis, cocaine and heroin.

3. Current national advice on drug education is set out in the following:

• How Good is our School? (The Scottish Office, 1996) - performance indicator 1.2 (quality of course or programme).
• A Route to Health Promotion (Aberdeen City Council, HEBS, HMI, 1999).
• HELP UP-DATE on drug and nutrition education (LT Scotland Curriculum File No 9).
• 5-14 national guidelines on health education.

4. A school is defined as providing drug education to each pupil if every pupil who stays at that school ‘from start to finish’ will receive drug education at some point. To provide ‘progression and continuity’, it would be expected that each pupil would receive drug education at several stages during their time at a particular school.

5. For drug education to be in line with national advice, it must be provided to every pupil and provide pupils with continuity and progression in their learning. It must also include education for all of the following areas: safe use of medicine, alcohol, tobacco, solvents and controlled drugs. All drug education has to take account of the age, stage and maturity of the children involved and it is accepted that education on controlled drugs may not be appropriate until later in primary school.

6. The methodology has changed since last year as schools are now classified as not following national advice if they report that they don’t fulfil all of the criteria. In addition, the survey now takes account of the fact that infants (P1-P3) are not expected to be taught about controlled drugs.

7. The methodology has also changed since last year as schools are now classified as not having written procedures for managing incidents of drug misuse which are in line with national advice, if the school reports that they do not have written procedures in place.

8. Current national advice on managing incidents of drugs misuse is set out in the following:

• HMI reports : Issues in health education and promotion (1996) and Drug and nutrition education (1999).
• HELP UP-DATE 1998.
• Guidelines for the Management of Incidents of Drug Misuse in Schools (SDST, SEED, 2000).

9. This is a National Statistics publication. National Statistics are produced to high professional standards set out in the National Statistics Code of Practice. They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs. They are produced free from any political interference.

10. Copies of all tables are available on the Scottish Executive website at www.scotland.gov.uk/stats

11. Public enquiries (non-media) about the information contained in this News Release should be addressed to Bianca Heggie, Assistant Statistician, SEED, 1-A Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ. Telephone 0131 244 0300 or e-mail ea.stats@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

12. Media enquiries about the information in this notice should be addressed to:

Press Education : 0131 244 4001

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