BLUEPRINT DRUG USE PREVENTION PROGRAMME

1. BLUEPRINT DRUG USE PREVENTION PROGRAMME The first major research-based, multi-component drugs education programme in the UK, launched jointly by the Home Office, the Department for Education and Skills and Department of Health.

2. BLUEPRINT’S AIMS • To reduce the number of young people using drugs. • To delay the onset of drug use. • To minimise the harm caused by drugs. • To enable those who have concerns about drug use to seek help.

3. EVIDENCE BASE 1Use of multi-component approach Combining school-based drug education with: • parental involvement • media campaigns • local health initiatives • community partnerships is more effective than simply delivering drug education in the classroom.

4. EVIDENCE BASE 2Effective drug education • Designs activities and materials for skills and knowledge levels of target group. • Develops life skills for informed decisions, assessing risks, minimising risks, resisting pressure. • Demonstrates that drug use not as widespread as young people think (normative education). • Uses interactive teaching and learning. • Includes teacher training and support. • Allows sufficient classroom time for skills learning and follow-up. • Is culturally sensitive to diverse backgrounds. • Is rigorously evaluated.

5. SCHOOL COMPONENT: main focus of workshop • 15 detailed drug education lesson plans for 11-13 year-olds • Detailed guidance for teachers • Support materials • Teacher training – 6 days (3 p.a.) • Support from School Drug Advisers • Devt. team visited each pilot school to explain Blueprint to whole staff.

6. Arrangements for evaluating the School Component • 23 pilot schools in four English LEAs • 6 Comparison schools in the same LEAs • Drug education programme delivered and evaluated in spring terms of 2004 and 2005 • Evaluation of drug education in comparison schools carried out over school years 2003-04 and 2004-05.

7. Data Collected On School Component • Classroom observations: • 266 Blueprint lessons • 54 Comparison school lessons • Follow-up interviews with teachers. • Lifestyle surveys of pupils before, during and after. • Impact surveys of pupils on reactions to Blueprint. • Parent survey on reactions to Blueprint. • Teacher survey on the training. • Observation of the training. • Interviews with SDAs.

8. The importance of fidelity of delivery in Blueprint • Teachers’ reactions to the requirement to deliver the programme exactly as intended. • Steps taken to ensure high level of fidelity. • To what degree did teachers maintain fidelity to Blueprint’s approach, lesson content and teaching and learning styles? • What were the challenges to fidelity (e.g. in terms of content, timing of activities, teacher understanding)?

9. Participants’ reactions to the Blueprint approach to drug education • Young people’s reactions to the programme • Teachers’ reactions to the programme • Young people’s engagement in Blueprint

10. Implications for teaching & learning • support for teachers • Use of active and interactive learning activities • Structuring and underpinning active and interactive learning • Content coverage • Teacher preparation

11. Implications for teaching & learning • Does the Blueprint approach: • Social influences • Normative education • Risk assessment and risk reduction • Resistance skills relate to the rest of the PSHE curriculum?

12. Publications Delivery report (forthcoming late 2007) Practitioner report (forthcoming late 2007) Impact report (forthcoming 2008) Websites: http://drugs.homeoffice.gov.uk www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds