POSITIVE CHOICES – A DRUG EDUCATION AND PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR SOUTH AFRICAN PRIMARY AND HIGH SCHOOLS – LEARNERS, STAFF, MANAGEMENT AND PARENTS
DRUG ABUSE – UNDER AGE DRINKING – VAPING
School is not about the repairing of all social evils. It is about repairing one: ignorance.
If you are not able to identify, understand the symptoms and educate learners about the following drugs – your school needs program!!!!
Sugars, Nyape, Planzana, Kwape, Jellies, Matakwane, Double dipped, Penguins, Nose Candy, Tjoeff, Khat, Kuber, Mitsubishis and Slag
TOTAL COST: R9, 950-00 PER SCHOOL (ALL INCLUSIVE) R4, 975-00 DEP TO SECURE YOUR DATE FOR 2024
The full day training package includes:
- 2 x Learner presentations (Duration: 1 Hour each)
- 1 x Staff Development Workshop (Duration: 2 Hours) and includes all workshop handouts, certificate and 5 SACE Accredited Points
- Optional Parent talk (Duration:1 Hour) Cost: R2,500-00
Introduction:
A recent study by the National Institute of Drug Abuse indicated an increase in drug abuse of 25% in Primary Schools and a 38% increase in High Schools. The Department of Basic Education has confirmed that the surge in drug use in schools is a major concern. Anecdotal evidence suggests that today’s adolescents are more willing to experiment with drugs thanks to products such as vapes, high sugar contented alcohol as well as a more relaxed societal attitudes to certain substances such as cannabis.
Most popular drugs used by South African learners:
- Alcohol: Alcohol is the most commonly used substance among students, with a prevalence rate of 13% (Primary Schools), 28% (High Schools) and 80.6% among university students in South Africa
- Vaping: The current use of vaping devices has sky rocketed in South Africa with reports of usage by learners as young as 6 year olds.
- Cannabis (Dagga): Cannabis is the most common illicit drug used by learners, mainly for enjoyment and stress relief. A study conducted amongst senior primary and high school learners found the use of illicit drugs such as dagga, nyaope, ecstasy, and cocaine, indicating criminality as these are prohibited substances. 78% of learners indicated that they had witnessed an adult smoking Cannabis.
- Xanax: There has been a dramatic rise in the illicit use of Xanax, an anti-anxiety medication, among South African school learners
- Methamphetamine (Tik): Tik is the main drug of choice for 42% of Cape Town drug users. The global meth trade supplies 51,000,000 users worldwide, with profits of over $35 billion from producing and distributing meth
- Cocaine: Cocaine is also a popular drug among South African learners, with 46% of the arrestees in Gauteng whose urine was tested for drugs being positive for one of six controlled substance types, including cocaine
- Heroin: In 1996, 1% of South Africans were in treatment for heroin abuse, while in 2008, those in treatment for this addiction increased between 8-24%
- Ecstasy: The use of ecstasy, a synthetic psychoactive drug, is also a concern among South African learners, as it indicates criminality as a prohibited substance
The Drug Education and Prevention Program
School staff members can play a powerful role in the prevention of underage drinking, vaping and drug use among their learners. Together, educators and families can work to send strong and consistent messages to students about the use of alcohol and other drugs. Teachers and school staff work hard every day to prepare students for future success. A alcohol and Drugs can undermine a child’s academic success and other life goals.
Additionally, substance misuse and substance use disorders are associated with a variety of negative consequences, including deteriorating relationships, poor school performance, loss of employment, diminished mental health, and increases in sickness and death.
Primary School Program:
Grade 1 – Grade 4 (Duration 1 Hour}
Making positive choices
My rights when adults smoke or vape around me
The dangers of vaping
When one sip is one to many
Energy drinks and the dangers
Good and bad medicine
Learning to say no
Grade 5 – Grade 7 (Duration 1 Hour)
Learning to develop clear decision making strategies
Devising a clear plan to refuse the offer of alcohol and other drugs
Making positive choices
The dangers of vaping
Drug classification, substance identification, physical and psychological symptoms and the long term effects of substance abuse
The following drug categories will be included in the workshop:
- Tranquilisers
- Cannabis
- Hallucinogens
- Stimulants
- Designer drugs
- Anabolic steroids
- Sedative hypnotics (Including Alcohol)
- Narcotic analgesics (opiates)
Understanding how addiction works
The addiction test
Getting help from a trusted adult
High School Program (Grade 8 – Grade 12) 2 X 1 Hour Presentations
Grades to be divided into 2 groups
Learning to develop clear decision making strategies
Devising a clear plan to refuse the offer of alcohol and other drugs
Making positive choices
The dangers of vaping
Drink spiking and keeping safe at parties
The dangers of steroids
Drug classification, substance identification, physical and psychological symptoms and the long term effects of substance abuse
The following drug categories will be included in the workshop:
- Tranquilisers
- Cannabis
- Hallucinogens
- Stimulants
- Designer drugs
- Anabolic steroids
- Sedative hypnotics (Including Alcohol)
- Narcotic analgesics (opiates)
Understanding how addiction works
The addiction test
Getting help from a trusted adult
Staff Development Workshop (Duration 2 Hours)
Workshop content
Section 1
Drug classification, substance identification, physical and psychological symptoms and the long term effects of substance abuse
The following drug categories will be included in the workshop:
- Tranquilisers
- Cannabis
- Hallucinogens
- Stimulants
- Designer drugs
- Anabolic steroids
- Sedative hypnotics (Including Alcohol)
- Narcotic analgesics (opiates)
Section 2
Addiction
- The stages of addiction
- Understanding addiction as a developmental disease
- An introduction to rehabilitation techniques used in South Africa
- Working with a recovering addict
- Assisting the addicts family
Section 3
The right to search, seize and test for an illegal substances
- An overview of:
- The criminal procedure act 51 of 1997
- The drug and drug trafficking act 140 of 1992
- The South African schools act 84 of 1996
- General guidelines
- How to conduct a search
- Seizing and disposing of an illegal substance
- Drug testing at an educational facility
- Procedures and test kits to be used
- Testing for anabolic steroids – The legalities
Section 4
Substance abuse prevention programme
- Introducing the Lets Stop Drug (LSD) campaign at your school
- Teaching learners about the dangers of drugs and alcohol in the classroom
- Parent education programme
- The identification of dealer networks in your community
