Recommendations

Support your opinions with facts
• Get familiar with what is the person that you have doubts about doing, what is his environment in school like, what is he doing during the class intervals,
• Pay attention to the changes in his/her behavior,
• Pay attention (talk to the class teacher and other teachers) how much time this student is spending at school.

Self educate yourself
• Search for objective information about psychologically active substances in order to be prepared for a conversation,
• Visit professional web sites about drugs. Do have in mind that not all the information that is on the Internet is correct and objective,
• Call the National Drugs, Alcohol and Gambling Helpline at 0888 99 18 66 and ask your specific questions,
• Do not forget that blaming someone could limit and destroy the communication,
• You do not need to become experts about drugs but get enough information.

Search for dialogue
• Do not use blaming and judging,
• Be supportive and understanding but do put clear boundaries and rules,
• Be informed about psychoactive substances,
• Support your words with arguments and facts.

Prevention
• Take care to educate in prevention the rest of the students,
• Invite someone or institution that is working in the field of addiction to give a lecture in your school, participate together with the students in events that support the healthy way of living or organize such events yourself,
• Organize your work with the school psychologist.