Written in part of The Daniel Spargo Mabbs Foundation
Often, Parents are simply expected to provide the education of life such as relationships, puberty, safe sex, peer pressure and many more but too many parents are simply too uncomfortable to talk about such explicit factors to their child as they often seen them as if they were a five-year-old. Often reasons stand such as:
“They won’t understand it!”
“It’s so wrong!”
“My child will simply be off putted by it!”
“My child will never listen to me!”
All these answers to these somewhat understandable excuses of how young teens are never taught about the risks of drugs and alcohol seems self-explanatory to others.
But there is a twist.
According to research, at least 38% by the time they are fifteen years old that they would have tried alcohol at least once. This can be obviously explained that in the UK, we already have a huge drinking culture. Whilst other European countries such as France, Germany and Spain also have such culture, it doesn’t help to explain the happiness satisfaction rate within the UK, which is the least happiest within Europe and which also has the most rates for binge drinking.
So what could be the reason behind this?
1) The use of “Health Terrorism”
This means using policies and procedures such as using sniffer dogs at school, zero tolerance rules to drugs and even one-time assemblies are not effective ways to tackle the drugs and alcohol awareness and risks to young individuals. Often these sessions evolve around the idea of morality and the idea of making you seem less respectful than you are often creates the desensitisation to the individuals mind as it has been spoken before and therefore makes them curious to try them but the sense of fear of being kicked out of school due to curiosity and judgement of society. This then makes individuals more prone to hide such things at school and home, which can lead to risks such as overdosing and death due to lack of awareness. What can be done is that schools should do further and regular sessions in PSHE to explain the highs and lows of drugs but also be taught the long-term effects and the legality of such drugs which enables awareness of how young people are going to make such choices. Also, by promoting safe spaces for young teens to speak, to someone about such issues by talking to the head of safeguarding and promote resources to get help such as FRANK, teens will feel more confident within themselves and provide less insecurity with the subject.
2) Lack of Communication between parents/teachers towards their younger teens
Due to society’s judgement on such a taboo subject such as drugs and alcohol, more than often parents and teachers would rather let young people do all of the hard work of finding out such topics themselves but with research, parents who don’t communicate enough on their children on topics such as alcohol and drugs were more likely to drink and take drugs without taking any precautions of risks and harm. With effective communication and by providing a comfortable, safe and honest space for teens to express their usage and curiosity without the face of judgement. By providing such spaces, teenagers are less likely to be potential drug takers but also feel less insecure about judgement from parents and teachers and feel as if they are worthy individuals who have potential.
3) Use of Social Media to influence that drugs are a good lifestyle
Social media isn’t a bad thing, nor it should be condemned as it enables use to promote and connect with people more easily than ever before but with celebrities taking risky drugs such as diet pills to lose weight and vaping to make themselves look cool, promotion such as these can create issues such as eating disorders and addiction, which both can lead to death. Although, this can be rather inevitable to prevent such issues, this can be used positively by young people speak against the risks of such lifestyle they are promoting but to also convince that they can use their platform to spread a positive message to young people by avoiding risky behaviours and openly talk about such experiences. With providing with spaces to talk about such topics on social media, this enables for young people to learn in the most positive way but also be influenced by positive role models.
About The Daniel Spargo Mabbs Foundation
The Daniel Spargo Mabbs Foundation is rising, not for profit charity founded in 2014. Their aim is to make sure that young adolescence is made aware but also are making safe choices about drugs and alcohol without judgement but to also prevent lives caused by overdoses. They provide resources such as workshops, assemblies and work with young adolescences and charities to create possible strategies to promote healthier choices.
For more information about the foundation, Dan’s Story and/or want to contribute and volunteer for the charity visit: www.dsmfoundation.org.uk
