BRITAIN'S DEADLIEST ADDICTIONS

CURRICULUM

This series is most suitable for Year 11 or post-16 students, due to the nature of its content. Although it does not contain scenes of a sexual nature, swearing or active drug-taking, the themes explored and the presentation of the programmes means they are probably not suitable for students in Key Stage 3 or younger.

SERIES AIMS

• To illustrate the effect that addiction has on individuals and their families
• To show how and why addiction develops in an individual
• To help students understand some of the treatments used with addicts
• To show that addiction takes many forms and can affect all kinds of people
• To show that addiction can be successfully treated.

CURRICULUM RELEVANCE

England

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) website (see Find out more) has more information about the curriculum of England and Northern Ireland.

Personal Social Health and Economic Education (PSHE Education) Programme of Study
This is compulsory at Key Stages 3 and 4 and addiction falls under the 'Personal Well-being' strand of PSHE. It includes (within the 'Range and Content' section):

• e. 'facts and laws about drug, alcohol, and tobacco use and misuse, and the personal and social consequences of misuse for themselves and others'.

Science Programme of Study
This also includes drug education under the Range and Content section:

• 3.3c. 'Conception, growth, development, behaviour and health can be affected by diet, drugs and disease'. This includes the physical and mental affects of drugs, alcohol and tobacco.

Northern Ireland

See England, above, for details.

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) website (see Find out more) has more information about the curriculum of England and Northern Ireland.

Wales

The 'Personal and Social Education Framework for 7- to 19-year-olds in Wales' outlines what students should learn and includes the following:

Learners should be given opportunities to know and understand:

• the effects of and risks from the use of a range of legal and illegal substances
• the sensible use of alcohol and the risks of binge-drinking.

Scotland

'Teaching and Learning Scotland' outlines what schools should provide in the curriculum and this includes 'Health Education', part of which is:

• Physical health: This strand explores physical factors in relation to our health and looking after ourselves e.g. 'Identify strategies for keeping healthy and safe, e.g. choosing not to use harmful substances'.