Year 9 · RSHE (PSHE) · beta

Risky substances: What do I need to know about illegal and prescription drugs?

Pupils learn which drugs are illegal, understand the effects of stimulants, depressants and hallucinogens, recognise links between drug use and mental health, and develop skills to stay safe. This unit includes includes content on the increased risk of potent synthetic drugs.

This is an attributed Oak National Academy lesson sequence, not a completed or academically approved DASKEREL course. Supporting transcripts may depend on video, images, practical equipment or teacher explanation. Follow each lesson’s supervision guidance. For religious education and RSHE, follow the school’s syllabus, policy and safeguarding procedures.

Prior knowledge

  • Pupils should understand from Year 8 the risks associated with alcohol and tobacco, and have developed basic skills for resisting peer pressure around risky substances.
  • Pupils should be familiar with making safe decisions about risky substances from previous units, including understanding peer influence and pressure.
  • Pupils should know from earlier learning that illegal behaviours have consequences including criminal responsibility.

Source curriculum references

  • How the use of alcohol and drugs can lead people to take risks in their sexual behaviour.
  • That the co-occurrence of alcohol/drug use and poor mental health is common.
  • That mental health problems can increase the risk of alcohol/drug use, and alcohol/drug use can trigger mental health problems or exacerbate existing ones.
  • The facts about which drugs are illegal, the risks of taking illegal drugs.
  • The increased risk of potent synthetic drugs being added to illegal drugs.
  • The potential health harms of illegal drugs, including the link to poor mental health.

Oak source metadata. DASKEREL has not independently verified school-level coverage.

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