DSM Foundation Successfully Pilots Comprehensive Drugs Education Programme in Scotland Schools
Tuesday, 16 July 2024 – The 2023-24 academic year has seen the DSM Foundation implementing a comprehensive programme of drugs education in multiple schools across the Grampian region of Scotland. The University of Aberdeen, which is conducting an evaluation of the pilot, has released an interim report revealing overwhelmingly positive outcomes and feedback. The full report is set to be published by the university in the autumn.
Fiona Spargo-Mabbs OBE, Director and Founder of the DSM Foundation, expressed her satisfaction with the results, stating, “We were incredibly pleased to see the impact our drug education pilot in the Northeast of Scotland has had on pupils, staff, and families, and to read the outcomes of the University of Aberdeen’s evaluation. It’s also been invaluable to listen to young people and teachers during the pilot and make adjustments where necessary to ensure our resources and approaches are as effective as possible in these different schools across the Grampian region. We’re very excited about the next chapter, building on this positive start to embed and extend our provision across the region and beyond, working with others to support young people in Scotland to make safer choices about drugs.”
The DSM Foundation was established in 2014 following the tragic death of 16-year-old Daniel Spargo-Mabbs from an accidental overdose of ecstasy. His family recognized the lack of resources and support available to schools and decided to set up the charity to prevent other families from experiencing a similar loss.
The aim of the DSM Foundation is to provide young people with relevant, age-appropriate, up-to-date, and evidence-based information about drugs so they can make informed decisions to keep themselves and their friends safe. The charity conducts extensive work in schools, colleges, and community organizations with children and young people. They also offer workshops for parents and caregivers, and training for school and college staff – the two groups identified by NHS survey data as the most likely sources of information about drugs and alcohol sought out by 11-15 year olds. Educational settings can also access “I Love You Mum, I Promise I Won’t Die,” a verbatim play by Mark Wheeller commissioned by the charity to tell Dan’s story in the words of his family and friends. Schools and colleges can study the play or book a Theatre in Education performance. Additionally, schools and colleges can download age-appropriate, relevant, up-to-date, and evidence-based drugs education resources for free from the DSM Foundation website for delivery by teachers through PSHE/PSE provision.
For more information about the DSM Foundation, visit their website at https://www.dsmfoundation.org.uk/.
Media inquiries about this press release or the work of the DSM Foundation can be sent to media@dsmfoundation.org.uk.
Distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/
