Alcohol, tobacco, vapes and other drugs

Information, advice, and guidance for schools on alcohol, tobacco and nicotine (in cigarettes e-cigarettes, or vapes) and other drugs.

These resources may help if you're completing our Understanding Substances Specialist Award or one of our Healthy Schools awards.

Definitions of drugs and substance use

A drug is a substance that acts on the central nervous system to cause physical, emotional, or psychological change.

This includes:

  • alcohol
  • nicotine
  • over the counter and prescription medicines
  • illegal drugs
  • harmful substances that are found in some household products

We use the term substances to talk about all the drugs in this list.

How substance use can impact on children and young people

Substance use by young people, even if it is occasional, always carries a risk of harm as it may:

  • interfere with adolescent brain development
  • severely damage developing organs such as the lungs, brain or liver
  • evidence also shows that substance use can interfere with educational outcomes and performance

Many substances, including alcohol and cannabis, affect a young person's ability to make decisions and judge situations. This means they could face an increased risk of:

  • accidents
  • injuries
  • damaging or losing important belongings such as money and phones unplanned, unprotected sex, putting themselves at further risk of unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
  • conflict with friends and families
  • being taken to hospital
  • getting drawn into violent incidents getting into trouble with the police

Starting to use a substance during adolescence, especially before the age of 15, increases the risk of heavier, harmful use during adulthood. This includes legal substances like alcohol.

Young people's substance use

Levels of substance use by young people in Bristol can be found in the latest Pupil Voice Survey report.

Substance use by primary school children is very rare and so this is a good time to ensure that prevention work is in place.

What schools can do

The National Drug Strategy aims to reduce how many people use drugs in England, especially young people. Their goal is to bring drug use down to the lowest level in 30 years. Schools need to support this initiative by trying to stop more young people trying drugs, alcohol, tobacco or vapes.

They can do this through a range of activities, including:

  • developing a whole school approach to substance use by working towards and achieving the Healthy Schools Understanding Substances Specialist Award
  • providing good quality, evidence-based education
  • having a trauma informed approach to supporting access to early intervention and effective treatment
  • increasing parents' awareness of how important they are in influencing young people's use of alcohol, drugs, tobacco and vapes

Resources to support schools with education about tobacco, vapes, alcohol, and drugs

Support for children and young people in Bristol

  • Support for young people | Horizons Bristol support and advice for young people who are using drugs and alcohol (not tobacco) or who are affected by a parent or carer's substance use. This should be the first point of contact for support for most young people
  • The Drugs and Young People Project supports young people who are in social care and who are using drugs and alcohol or who are affected by a parent or carer's substance use. Referral to this service needs to be made by their social worker, so school staff will need to speak to them about their concerns
  • Young People's Specialist Substance Misuse Treatment Service is part of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) services. It gives support to young people who are using substances and have other complex problems, including poor mental health. Referrals can be made directly, or by Horizons workers.
  • Drug and Alcohol Support for Children from the Hawkspring organisation supports children in south Bristol who are affected by a parent or carer's substance use
  • Smoke Free Bristol helps young people stop smoking and vaping

Working with Parents and Carers