Report on the Misuse of Drugs in Primary Schools Essay Example

Report on the Misuse of Drugs in Primary Schools Essay There is a misconception among the general populace that the misuse of drugs only exists among young people aged 16-25. It is believed that primary school children are too young to have been exposed to the world of controlled substances and their misuse. As a result of this, parents may be unaware that their actions can affect the actions of their children in future. Many children of primary school age are greatly influenced by the substances surrounding them every day. Perhaps a family member has a medical problem, someone is addicted to their medication, to other thrill-seeking substances or they smoke or drink. Even legal substance use can arguably influence a young child and other children they come into contact with. Sir Liam Donaldson claims in his report on alcohol consumption by children (2009, p.23) that, Parental use of alcohol increases the likelihood that children will also consume alcohol. If a child is likely to start drinking and/or smoking at an earlier stage because their environment exposes more of that legal substance, it is a logical assumption that the same is true for illegal substances. It is common knowledge that a pregnant mother who smokes, drinks alcohol or takes drugs creates a high likelihood that the unborn child will be born addicted to those substances. Although young children are no longer biologically linked to their mother in the same way, the same likelihood of addiction and experimentation is surely generated through nurture. Issues Despite misconceptions that all children of primary school age are too young to get involved in substance misuse, statistics indicate that Primary school children as young as nine are part of more than 50,000 children picked up by police for possessing illegal substances every year. (HANNAM, 2006). In another report on the knowledge and use of drugs and alcohol in primary school children by Queens University Belfast: The researchers found that 31% of the children had been exposed to illegal drugs while 9% had actually been offered them. Cannabis was the most commonly used illegal drug and while around 6.5% of the sample had tried it, others thought it was legal and not harmful. (MCCRYSTAL, 2004) We will write a custom essay sample on Report on the Misuse of Drugs in Primary Schools specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Report on the Misuse of Drugs in Primary Schools specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Report on the Misuse of Drugs in Primary Schools specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer This evidence clearly shows that young children do get involved with drugs and other substances. It also indicates that there is a significant lack of knowledge and understanding when it comes to substances that young children are more likely than anticipated to come into contact with. Evidently, drug education in primary schools does not achieve all it was intended for. This issue is increased by the lack of knowledge and the attitude of adults towards substance abuse within a childs environment. An evaluation on parents knowledge of their childs drug use carried out by Hermida et al (2003) found that parents with children who consume drugs tend to strongly underestimate their childrens use. Parents are therefore unaware of the need to be mindful of the possibility of their childrens experimentation with drugs. Information from Great Olmond Street Hospital (2009) also states by age 11, a third of children will have experimented with smoking. These facts reveal the need for awareness among adults and greater efforts to prevent such statistics. A further issue on drug misuse among primary school aged children is arguably the accessibility. According to TACADE / Health Education Council, (1986, Unit 1, Sheet 1), substances are available freely within the home, school and general environment. Statistics of alcohol consumption, for example, which in the report by McCrystal (2004, p.15) said that over 25% of primary school boys and over 15% of girls had drunk more than a sip of alcohol in the last 7 days, there is an ease with which children can access alcohol. Misuse of alcohol can also lead to other substance misuse such as cannabis, the most common and most accessible for young people under 18; Alcohol use in childhood and adolescence is associated with cannabis use. (DONALDSON, 2009, p.70). Alcohol is often obtained by younger children from older friends, siblings and even parents, whether this is just a sip or full access to a drinks cabinet. Children may not be so keen on larger and beer, however the cheap and sweet taste of alcopops are easy to like because children cannot taste the alcohol inside. Cigarettes are also easily accessible by young people. McCrystals report (2004, p.15) also covered tobacco use between 9-11 year olds stating that 1% were current smokers while up to 12% of them said they had tried smoking at some time. Perhaps the education for the prevention of substance misuse does not put enough emphasis on the illegality of the use of alcohol and tobacco by people under 18 years of age. Perhaps there is not enough emphasis on the danger these substances can cause to the young, developing body. Also an influence on childrens substance misuse is a childs home environment. Research has shown that children who come from broken homes and Looked After Children are more likely to be exposed to substance misuse than are other young people (NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FOR WALES, 2002). Easy access to drugs, alcohol and tobacco increases the likelihood of children starting to misuse the substances earlier in life. Finally, an important issue of drug misuse by primary school children is the effect it has on their own and other childrens futures. Children influenced by family and friends misuse of substances and misusing substances themselves experience repercussions on their own education and their future relationships: Initiation of drinking prior to age 14 has been shown to be associated with a number of risk factors including having experienced alcohol-related injuries, involvement in violent behaviours and suicide ideation and attempts. Early onset of drinking is also associated with having more sexual partners and pregnancy, other substance abuse, employment problems and risky driving behaviours. (DONALDSON, 2009, p.57) Childrens futures (short and the long term) are greatly affected if they get involved or are exposed to substances. Children involved in drinking and drug abuse are more likely to develop health problems earlier in life (as it does with all ages) but it could increase susceptibility to conditions such as depression, which, in turn, can lead to further substance abuse. Children who smoke are also likely to develop health problems at an earlier age but are also arguably in a position to be encouraged to skip school and become addicted to more dangerous substances such as cannabis. Missing out on education at an early age could have more serious consequences than later in life as primary school children are at a critical point in their education and may fall too far behind to catch up to their peers. Personal View My personal view identifies awareness as the key to preventing and dealing with such issues. The National Curriculum aims to provide enough information on the potential risks of legal and illegal substance use for children to be able to make positive health choices. In Key Stage 2, children learn to take increasing responsibility for keeping the mind and body safe and healthy and to understand the harmful effects, both to themselves and others, of tobacco, alcohol and other legal and illegal substances. (DFES, 2008, p.18). However, I think that these objectives are too vague and do not give enough knowledge and understanding about drugs and medicines. Children do not seem to be aware of the damage they are risking to themselves and others and appear to underestimate the repercussions the misuse of substances may cause. Schools have a key role to play in ensuring that young people understand the risks involved and have the confidence, knowledge and skills to avoid them (MANN, 2004, p. 2) My opinion is that awareness is vitally important in educating parents and teachers. The adults within a childs life need to be able to recognise signs and take appropriate action to discourage and to help children who might or are experimenting with substances. By educating adults as well as children, the responsibility can be shared. Adults need to be aware of their own actions and the consequences that may include the influence on a child. Teachers also play an important part in influencing and educating children. If teachers can approach the subject of drugs from a health context in a sensitive and thorough manner, then the school can make a positive contribution. (TACADE / HEALTH EDUCATION COUNCIL, 1986, Unit 3, Sheet 1). It is an increase in awareness that is likely to increase difficulty for children to access tobacco, alcohol and drugs. However, there is a limit to the legislation that can be put into place without violating the rights of those that are legally authorized to access a substance. It is almost impossible therefore, to stop those who have prescriptions for medication and who are of a legal age to purchase alcohol and tobacco from passing them on to children. Drug Education is often based around the shock horror principle which is effective, but only for a short time. The theory being that seeing the films and photographs of the consequences will discourage all curiosity to experiment. However, Emmeett and Nice (2008, p.12) argue that children are interested by the approach and that in some cases this fascination may even have led directly to experimentation. Therefore education needs to be carefully and frequently reviewed as to whether the intended results are what have been achieved along with childrens future intentions and attitudes. Conclusion * Children today are getting involved in the misuse of substances from an increasingly younger age. * Statistics show how adults can be very mistaken about the experiences of primary school aged children. The common misconception that younger children do not come into contact with substances leads to the lack of attention paid to the situation which could escalate it. * Education is given on substance use and the risks it involves, however, drug education in the primary school needs to be developed and increased. Further education needs to be more available to parents and teachers for supporting their child and ensuring their well-being as far as possible. * While some substances are very accessible, greater awareness in communities could serve to restrict young children from acquiring them so easily. * The less children that are influenced by and exposed to frequent substance use or misuse and instead correctly and sensitively educated, the more children will reach their teenage years with the knowledge, skills and understanding to face the decisions they are certain to encounter.