Schools: Substance Abuse Education

Lord Ramsbotham Excerpts

Monday 2nd February 2015 Lords Chamber

[Lord Nash]

It is true that figures show that alcohol abuse among young people of school age is down, but that may not be the case for those in their late teens or early 20s. On the noble Lord’s point about the private sector, we are trying to make sure that all state schools have an active extracurricular programme so that these kinds of extracurricular courses are well attended.

[Lord Ramsbotham (CB)]

My Lords, can the Minister confirm that drugs education is on the syllabus of young offender establishments? Although there may be treatment, there is not much evidence of education, which is just as important.

[Lord Nash]

I agree entirely with the noble Lord. That is not really my brief, but I agree that more education in prisons would be a very welcome thing.