Drugs and alcohol education is fundamental for children and young people to grow up healthy and safe.
Effective alcohol and drug education builds pupil resilience, confidence and life skills around alcohol and drugs. Under statutory RSHE guidance, drug, alcohol, and tobacco education falls under the compulsory Health Education curriculum. It requires an age-appropriate curriculum covering legal/illegal substances, health/addiction risks, and the law and to facilitate progression of learning that is age and developmentally appropriate.
PSHE Association recommend a planned, spiral curriculum in PSHE education lessons to make sure teaching is enhanced by, and enhances, the wider PSHE education curriculum. For lesson planning and curriculum mapping PSHE Association Drug and Alcohol Education Guidance.
The Department for Education (DfE) advises all schools to maintain an up-to-date drugs policy consistent with national and local guidance. Updated RSHE guidance published in July 2025 includes additional focus on illicit vapes, counterfeit medicines, and the dangers of synthetic drugs. With You can provide you with advice around your school policies, such as exclusion policies, and help put in packages of support for pupils at-risk of exclusion because of alcohol or drug use.
If you would like any support/advice please email kentchft.wholeschoolhealth@nhs.net
Vaping
Smokefree Sheffield, with support from ASH and local authorities across Yorkshire and Humber, have produced a comprehensive set of resources for schools to use:
- Two posters for display in school toilets, classrooms, canteens, and noticeboards
- A short animated film about vaping to start discussions in PSHE lessons, form times and assemblies
- Classroom presentation for use by teachers alongside the animated film including a notes page
- Vaping - the facts teachers toolkit with more detail to back up the classroom presentation
- Vaping leaflet for parents and carers to share via newsletters or emails etc.
Nicotine pouches
Nicotine pouches are governed under the UK's Tobacco and Vapes Act. Currently, there is no age of sale in place for nicotine pouches, meaning they can be legally sold to children. However, under the Tobacco and Vapes act, from 29th October 2026 an age of sale of 18 will apply. Trading Standards has created an informational leaflet that may be helpful.
Coming soon
- October 29, 2026: Age of sale officially set to 18; ban on free samples and vending machines takes effect.
- January 1, 2027: The "smoke-free generation" rule takes effect, phasing out the legal sale of combustible tobacco products for anyone born after January 1, 2009
- June 1, 2027: Ban on the advertising and sponsorship of nicotine products goes live.
Other resources
- With DHSC School Zone students can explore the facts and impacts of vaping
- Drug and alcohol education (pshe-association.org.uk)
- ADPH South East - managing vapes in school
- Teacher training: drugs, alcohol and tobacco - (Gov.uk)
- Alcohol lesson plan pack - School Zone
- Contact Frank Directly | Confidential Advice | FRANK (talktofrank.com).
- The TALK ABOUT Trust is a small, dedicated youth charity that works across the UK to ensure young people make safer choices around alcohol and other substances such as vaping and cannabis. The TALK ABOUT Trust supports young people age 8 - 25 with advice, workshops and resources on a range of life choices via schools, children’s homes, pupil referral units, youth and sports clubs. We train teachers and youth workers, empower parents and carers and provide diversionary activities for young people.
We are with you in Kent
We are with you is the commissioned specialist provider of substance misuse treatment, working with young people aged 10 - 17 and targeted groups of young people up to 24 years across Kent, providing access to advice, information and support around their alcohol and drug use.
We are with you in Kent delivers early intervention work to groups of young people to reduce the risks and harm associated with substance misuse and also work one to one with young people who need specialist support and treatment.
Our trained skilled staff work with young people, including those with complex needs, to achieve positive change through evidence-based work.
We are devoted to developing a family focus within the organisation and building referral pathways for families affected by the substance misuse of young people.
The service also offers advice, information and support to parents, carers and families who are concerned about a young person’s substance use.
Should you require further information about any of the support and interventions we deliver please visit the We are with you website or call our office on 01795 500881.
You must have the young person’s consent to refer into service.