Classes delivered to 11 and 12 year old school pupils about the dangers of legal highs are being rolled out across Wales this month.
Originally devised by Gwent Police, the lesson includes the showing of fictional film ‘Lethal Highs’, acted out by pupils and based on real life events, in which 16-year-old pupil Jamie attempts to purchase legal highs at the behest of his peers.
Legal highs, otherwise known as New Psychoactive Substances (NPSs), produce similar effects to illegal drugs, and circumvent drug laws by claiming not to be fit for human consumption and are being sold, for example, as incense salts or plant food.
The lesson, which will be run by School Community Police Officers also encourages discussion between pupils about the dangers of legal highs, how the substances are branded as legal, and picking apart the actions and subsequent consequences of the characters in the DVD, categorising each into ‘good’ or ‘bad’ decisions.
School Liaison Officer PC Zoe Penrose ran the lesson at Lewis School, Pengam, and said: “I think it’s really important that we give them a good education and we give them the information so that they are the ones that are making the informed decisions about what is right and wrong.
“I have spoken to quite a few pupils who have said they’ve heard about these things, but weren’t aware that they were actually drugs.”
One of the core campaigns used against NPSs is the mantra: ‘Just because it’s legal, doesn’t mean it’s safe’, and it’s something which has been reinforced with pupils of Lewis School, Pengam, who recently had the class.
Thomas Denman, 11, Hengoed, said: “I learnt a lot, especially about how things that are legal aren’t necessarily safe or tested, and things can go really wrong.
“I think it’s important that we learn about these kinds of things in lessons, and maybe even from a younger age.”
The informative lesson has been delivered to more than 3,500 pupils across the Gwent area since September 2015.
At the launch of the lesson plan at the Senedd in Cardiff, Gwent Police Deputy Chief Constable Craig Guildford said: “The ‘Lethal Highs’ lessons have been well received by Gwent pupils and is seen by teachers and behavioural support practitioners as a welcome and necessary addition to the substance misuse lessons that are part of the PSE curriculum.
“The lesson looks at the contradiction in legal but unsafe substances and advances knowledge and understanding of the dangers surrounding New Psychoactive Substances, promoting further discussion around other social issues and the impact of social media.
“The lesson is appropriate to the age of the pupils and follows a natural progression to the lessons covered in year 6.
“The lesson allows our School Community Police Officers the opportunity to fully explain the law and the changing laws in relation to this issue and the vital message that ‘just because it’s legal doesn’t mean it’s safe’.”
Ridiculous! I went to school and turned out fine. I did not have these legal high classes. the time should be spent on the core PISA subjects to reverse the declining trend in Welsh education.