Tackling drugs in your neighbourhood

National charity Care for the Family is tackling parental concerns over drugs and alcohol abuse by training presenters for the How to Drug-Proof Your Kids course. Training takes place in London on July 21 and 22.

Exposure to drugs and alcohol is one of the major worries faced by parents today. 'Drugs' can be a word that gives rise to fear, confusion and denial. How to Drug-Proof Your Kids is a community-based programme developed in conjunction with drugs education charity, Hope UK. It gives parents the information they need to encourage their children to have a responsible attitude towards drugs and alcohol.

The innovative, preventative programme trains Accredited Presenters who will be able to run their own courses in local communities. Presenters will then play a crucial role in addressing one of the top concerns of parents today.

So far more than 200 presenters from across the UK have been trained by Care for the Family to lead the course in their local communities. People who have attended previous events have commented that: "The course is excellent even for someone who is not a parent. Thanks for helping us to be prepared to go out and help families in our communities."

How to Drug Proof Your Kids covers:

• Drugs: How bad is the problem?
  
• Why kids take drugs
  
• How to educate kids to make good choices
  
• Prevention tools for parents
  
• Learning to intervene - and where to get help!
  

Paula Pridham, Training Manager for Care for the Family, is enthusiastic about taking How to Drug-Proof Your Kids to London.

"The response we have had to this training course has been excellent. As people take the programme out into their communities, they are beginning to make a huge difference in the lives of many parents. This is an excellent opportunity for more people to train as presenters and help parents learn How to Drug Proof Your Kids!"

People who want to train as accredited presenters will have this opportunity at a two-day training course held at London South Bank University, Keyworth Street, London, SE1 6NG on July 21 and 22.

The cost of the non-residential course is £249 per person (Statutory or Corporate sector), £199 per person (Individual place or Voluntary Sector), which includes two days' training with meals, all materials and on-going support. Individuals wishing to become Accredited Presenters will need to provide references and, on completion of training, agree to the Conditions of Accreditation. For every place booked, a second place is available at the special rate of £129. All prices include VAT.

For more information about How to Drug Proof Your Kids training courses, contact Care for the Family, PO Box 488, Cardiff, CF15 7YY or telephone (029) 2081 0800. Alternatively book online at www.care-for-the-family.org.uk

STATISTICS

• 53% of regular smokers aged 11-15 years had used illegal drugs in the last month compared to 1% of those who had not smoked
  (Department of Health 2001)
  
• 40% of 13 and 14-year-olds were drunk or stoned when they lost their virginity (Wight 2000)
  
• Among those aged 16-24 years in England and Wales, 29% had used drugs in the last year and 19% in the last month (Department of Health 2000)

 

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