GV Passporrt

Drug & Alcohol Education

In week one, Year 9 students participated in the GV PASSPORRT Program.  This is a drug and alcohol awareness program aimed at giving students the skills to make good decisions when exposed to situations involving drugs and alcohol. Students were involved in drug and alcohol education prior to attending the program, so as to give them background knowledge and some idea of the issues faced. 

The GV PASSPORRT program was conducted here at school where images and scenarios of a real Hotel/Bar was able to set the scene. The students were explained the laws relating to entering a licensed premises, as well as what is acceptable identification.  

Also discussed was what to do if you felt unsafe while in a pub or club. Students formed six groups where they rotated between different experts who deal with drug and alcohol issues.

 The experts were:

• Police – who spoke about drink spiking, staying safe, looking after your mates, planning your night and how to get home afterwards as well as legal issues.
• Headspace (run by mental health nurses) – who discussed the effects on mental health that drugs and alcohol can have and how to protect your brain.
• Primary Care Connect (run by Drug and Alcohol workers) – discussed alcohol, standard drinks, drink spiking, and staying safe.
• First Aid (run by Adolescent Health Nurses) – who spoke about basic first aid procedures, when to get help, what to do in an emergency, how to ring the ambulance.
• Gamblers Help (run by Primary Care Connect) – discussed problem gambling and the statistics of winning.
• Brain and Problem Solving (run by Word and Mouth and Adolescent Health Nurse) – discussed the effect on the brain of drugs and alcohol and a problem solving model for a safe night out!

Students gave fantastic feedback and had many questions for the presenters.

Mark Metcalf

Adolescent Health Nurse