3rd Year Substance Abuse Programme
For the Attention of 3rd Year Parents/Guardians.
On Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th of April next, 3rd Year students will be attending a school-based drug education workshop, whose programme is outlined below.
This is a growing issue for this age-group nationwide and we hope your son will benefit from it. Our counsellors will be present both during and after the workshop in case your son has further questions – and they are more than welcome to call into them at any time.
Warms regards,
Ms Brosnan, Ms. Flynn, Ms. Nolan, Ms Egan.
Programme Overview
This interactive drug education programme is designed for post-primary school students (3rd year and above) with a focus on evidence-based harm reduction, open dialogue, and real-world application. Drawing on 17 years of frontline addiction counselling experience, Joey McDonald delivers this programme prioritising student engagement through small group interaction rather than traditional lecture formats.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this programme, students will be able to:
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Understand the neurobiological impact of substances on the developing adolescent brain
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Identify personal and environmental risk factors for substance use problems
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Apply harm reduction strategies and critical decision-making skills
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Recognise signs of problematic substance use in themselves or peers
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Access appropriate support services and resources when needed
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Engage in informed conversations about substance use with confidence
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Develop refusal skills appropriate to their developmental stage