The Drugs Awareness course programme is designed to be an introduction to drug use and misuse, and aims to provide the student with basic knowledge of drugs and other related substances and the health issues surrounding them.

The Drugs Awareness course covers both legal and illegal substances and looks at their effects, consequences and legislation. It also offers an introduction to drug use in society and the relevant responses and interventions.

The Drugs Awareness course intends to enhance students’ knowledge of drugs, their use and misuse, provide a basis for individuals to develop increased social awareness, assist in the support for the relevant government policy through an educational model, provide students with knowledge in relation to health issues surrounding the use and misuse of different types of drugs and other substances and provide the student with the basic drug knowledge required to progress to a higher-level qualification.

This course will benefit a range of people, including social and health care professionals, youth workers, community groups, parents/carers and volunteers. Teachers, and support workers in substance misuse agencies will also find the Drugs Awareness course a useful Certificate to acquire.

This Drugs Awareness course has been mapped to the DANOS standards and can be found on the DANOS Learning Resources Database. It helps people to develop their knowledge, skills and competence in the following DANOS units:  AA1, AA3, AA4, AB2, AB5, AC1, AD1, BD3.