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The Fact is, alcohol and drugs are readily available in our society, and the consequences of drug and alcohol abuse are potentially devastating. Aside from the individual consequences, the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol are also felt in the broader community through vandalism, assaults, road casualties and suicides.
Statistics show that the majority of teenagers try illicit drugs out of curiosity, followed by peer pressure. It is through the education of our youth, their teachers and parents, that teenagers can be empowered to make healthy decisions in relation to drugs and alcohol, and their harmful effects can be
minimised.
In response to this need, the Breakfree Foundation has developed the Real Deal program, specifically designed to deliver honest, up to date information,
covering both legal and illegal drugs and alcohol.
Presented by qualified teachers with many years experience in developing and delivering drug education programs, the Real Deal program provides real life information to students, teachers and parents about the types of drugs that exist and the dangers of their use.
Recovering alcoholics and drug addicts add to the impact of the program by relating their experiences with addiction.
The Real Deal program consists of student, teacher and parent sessions, designed to not only provide important information to encourage healthy decision
making, but to also open the channels of communication between students, parents and teachers.
Real Deal for Students
The Real Deal for Students program is directed to adolescents and teenagers in years eight to twelve at high school.
The program includes information about the range of alcohol, licit and illicit drugs teenagers may come in contact with, including information about:
• Levels and patterns of use
• Short and long term effects of each drug type (including gender-specific effects)
• Consequences of addiction, with testimonies from former addicts
• Signs of overdose, and what to do
• Where to get help, including alcohol and drug information services
Breakfree has conducted many Real Deal programs in high schools, and has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from all those who have attended.
Some of the comments received from students have been:
“Thanks for coming. I thought the session was great and I have learnt a lot.”
“I think it's a great idea showing and teaching teens about the consequences of drugs.”
“The stories of what really happens to people who get addicted made me have second thoughts about taking drugs.”
“I now realise the realities of drug use and the side effects.”
Real Deal for Teachers
The Real Deal for Teachers program is designed to increase teachers’ knowledge of drugs and alcohol and provide practical techniques for the effective communication with students on drug and alcohol related issues. The session covers:
Topics covered include:
• Types of drugs and their identification
• Current drug usage, trends and statistics
• Alcohol, Cannabis, Heroin, Ecstasy, Cocaine and other party drugs
• Medications, tranquillisers and steroids
• Short and long-term effects of drugs and alcohol
• Various role-play techniques that can be used with students
Real Deal for Parents
The Real Deal for Parents program has been designed to equip parents with valuable information to assist them to deal with drug and alcohol issues that may arise within their family. The program gives parents the confidence to discuss and address drug-related issues with their children. The program also aims to increase parent’s knowledge and understanding of adolescent development.
The program includes:
• Information about the range of licit and illicit drugs teenagers may come in contact with, including information about effects, levels and patterns of use
• Discussion regarding the harm minimisation approach and communication strategies which can be helpful in situations involving the use of alcohol and other drugs
• Information about local support services available for parents and young people concerned about drug use
Parents who have attended previous programs have commented:
“Thankyou. Very much needed. More people need to hear this. “
“I would like to congratulate all of the presenters tonight on their courage & delivery.”
“The most valuable part was understanding that everyone is at risk and understanding what to look for.”
“The testimonies were heart rendering, effective & very honest. The slides gave important information.”
