Talks for School Staff & Those Who Work With Young People - 2025
by Paul Dillon (DARTA)
Description
For talks aimed at school staff, and others who work with young people, Paul offers a range of topics to select from. These are most often delivered as part of a whole school community program, but can be tailored and delivered in other contexts.
School-based young people and alcohol and other drugs: Hot topics 2025
Using the most current data, this presentation will provide information on young people and their use of alcohol and other drugs. A number of ‘hot topics’ such as vaping, nicotine pouches, drink spiking, nitazenes, and the resurgence of psychedelics will be discussed. In addition, the school’s role in providing age-appropriate drug education and the important part teachers play in building resilient young people will be examined.
Drugs and mental health: What do teachers need to know?
This presentation will examine what we currently know about school-based young people and their mental health. What is the link between alcohol and other drug (AOD) use and mental health and, most importantly, what do we know about the AOD use of students with a mental health diagnosis? Information will be provided on the impact of the use of particular substances on mental health, including alcohol, cannabis, ecstasy/MDMA and psychedelics. Vaping will also be discussed. Finally, the school’s role will be examined, as well as what the classroom teacher can realistically do in this complex area.
What’s happening with vaping? What are schools seeing and what’s next?
In recent years, vaping (the use of electronic cigarettes, e-cigarettes or ‘vapes’) has become a growing issue for many schools across the country. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the number of students choosing to vape is declining, with far fewer being caught using the devices at school. At the same time other nicotine products, such as Snus or Zyn, now appear to be being used by young people. The session will also discuss the importance of a whole school approach involving clear policies, best practice AOD education and accurate and up-to-date information disseminated across the school community.
Relevant Links
DARTA provides samples of some of Paul's presentations here.
Paul maintains a blog through which parents & caregivers can stay up to date and have questions answered here, and one directed at young people here.
School-based young people and alcohol and other drugs: Hot topics 2025
Using the most current data, this presentation will provide information on young people and their use of alcohol and other drugs. A number of ‘hot topics’ such as vaping, nicotine pouches, drink spiking, nitazenes, and the resurgence of psychedelics will be discussed. In addition, the school’s role in providing age-appropriate drug education and the important part teachers play in building resilient young people will be examined.
Drugs and mental health: What do teachers need to know?
This presentation will examine what we currently know about school-based young people and their mental health. What is the link between alcohol and other drug (AOD) use and mental health and, most importantly, what do we know about the AOD use of students with a mental health diagnosis? Information will be provided on the impact of the use of particular substances on mental health, including alcohol, cannabis, ecstasy/MDMA and psychedelics. Vaping will also be discussed. Finally, the school’s role will be examined, as well as what the classroom teacher can realistically do in this complex area.
What’s happening with vaping? What are schools seeing and what’s next?
In recent years, vaping (the use of electronic cigarettes, e-cigarettes or ‘vapes’) has become a growing issue for many schools across the country. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the number of students choosing to vape is declining, with far fewer being caught using the devices at school. At the same time other nicotine products, such as Snus or Zyn, now appear to be being used by young people. The session will also discuss the importance of a whole school approach involving clear policies, best practice AOD education and accurate and up-to-date information disseminated across the school community.
Relevant Links
DARTA provides samples of some of Paul's presentations here.
Paul maintains a blog through which parents & caregivers can stay up to date and have questions answered here, and one directed at young people here.
Details
Audience
School Staff, Staff working with young people
Duration
60 minutes
Requirements
Projection (Powerpoint) facilities. Windows PC Laptop (or Apple Mac, with notice). Microphone (lapel mic preferred). Paul’s presentations do not use audio.