Training & Consultancy: Courses

Core Drugs Awareness

Duration: one or two days

Appropriate for: This course is for:

new workers and volunteers with little or no previous experience
mental health workers who need to expand their drugs knowledge
workers or volunteers with knowledge around a specific drug but needing to widen their knowledge and experience
workers in need of a refresher or to 'formalise' previous learning

The one day course is adequate for workers who will have little contact with people who use drugs but need a basic understanding. The two day course will be more appropriate for new workers who will work with drug users and need more detailed knowledge.

About the course: The main part of the course is an exploration of the main drugs used outside of medical settings in the UK. The course also looks at reasons behind drugs use, concepts in drug use and some key responses to drug use. There is an exploration of what harm drug use can cause and strategies for addressing this.

Learning Objectives:

Understanding of the range of legal and illegal drugs that may be used in non-medical settings
Understanding of the range and spectrum of drug use, and patterns of drug use
Increased familiarity with key drugs,
Increased awareness of risks related to drug use
Increased awareness of the range of responses to drug use
Understanding of key concepts such as dependency, treatment and harm reduction.

The course includes:

What do we mean by "drugs."
Drug trends
Why people use drugs
Frameworks for understanding drugs:
- Legal
- Social
- Physiological
Key drugs:
- Availability
- Cost
- Appearance
- Methods of use
- Effects
- Terms
- Key risks
Concepts
- Physical and psychological dependency
- Harm reduction
- Detoxification
- Rehabilitation

Format: The course will involve taught sections, small group work and work in pairs.

Handouts: The course will be accompanied by "Drug Facts" Handouts and additional literature by arrangement.

DANOS Modules: AA1, AA4, AB2, AB5, AC1, AD1, AD2, AD4

Notes: This is a flexible course that can be tailored for delivery in a number of settings (e.g. housing, young people specific, community, etc.)

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