Students taught to say no to drugs
May 2009
by Lisa Gilby
Learning how to say no ... Year 7 teachers Megan Carmel and Carmen Kleindienst with students Zane Armstrong, Isabell Windebank, Andrew Gavegan and Brent Robertson.
A drug awareness program at Everton Park State School teaches students about the effects drugs can have on the body and aims to give them the confidence and self-esteem to say no.
Principal Judy Scotney said the program gave Year 7 students as much information as possible about legal and illegal drugs before they went to high school.
'At least then they will be aware because we don't know when they will encounter drugs,' she said.
'But more than anything it's about developing self-esteem so they are strong enough to say no.'
She said students were asked to research and understand a range of legal prescription and illegal drugs.
'They research them in a formal context so they know the effects they can have on the body.'
Ms Scotney said the students also designed a range of materials including bumper stickers and T-shirts with the theme of "How to say no".
'We also do a lot of role-playing with the students so they can practise saying no until they feel really confident,' she said.
'Students write scripts for various scenarios where they have to say no in a friendly and non-threatening but firm manner and then role-play the scripts.
'A lot of students in Years 8 and 9 have come back and said that's the part they were really able to use.
'One ex-student said she was offered drugs in Year 9 and went straight into her role-play and followed the procedures we had discussed at school.
'We also have the Life Education Van visit during this time and visitors from the police drug squad talk with the students.'
Ms Scotney said parents were supportive of the program.
'The parents are advised before the students start the program and they are usually very, very happy for them to take part,' she said.
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