with parents/carers alternative (see Part III)

Requirement: Competent group discussion leader with one hour’s preparation time.

PART I – BASIC DRUG AWARENESS

Explain that the group will spend about 20 minutes talking about drugs, and that there will be opportunity for discussion.

a) Drug Quiz (click here for printable quiz)

Indicate that the Quiz ought to be completed in 2/3 minutes (individually).

Briefly highlight information about each question as you go through the answers.

b) Dangerous Drugs (click here for printable version)

Invite people (in twos or threes) to decide which are the three most dangerous drugs (2/3 minutes).

Ask each ‘mini-group’ for its opinion. Say there are no right or wrong answers. Ask why they decided on their choice.

Then ask if they would have made different decisions if they were 14 years old today.

Discuss which drugs are the most dangerous using the following criteria:-

Number of deaths (Answer: Tobacco)

Death on first use (Answer: Solvents)

Harm to society (Answer: Alcohol)

Most addictive (Answer: Heroin or Nicotine)

Conclusion: Different drugs have different effects and the level of risk varies according to the individual and their circumstances.

c) Comment

Remind everyone that the group has only briefly dealt with drug information. Booklets and websites are available that provide more information. Given the time available, it is important to move on.

The important thing is to get people thinking.

HELPFUL HINTS

If you only have an hour, do not spend more than 20 minutes on this section, however tempting it may be to carry on talking!

Ask for the answers as a means of getting people talking. Use the knowledge gained from the Knowledge Hub, together with the information in the Quiz answers to add to the discussion. Do not ask people how many they got right. Most people do not get them all right!

Avoid saying what ‘dangerous’ means. The point of the exercise is to get people thinking about different types of danger and talking about them.

Don’t worry if you get asked something and don’t know the answer – you can always offer to find out later, perhaps by telephoning Hope UK (020 7928 0848). For example, the ‘street’ names for different drugs do change and it is virtually impossible to stay up-to-date on everything.

Background information about signs and symptoms can be found in the Knowledge Hub and photocopied if appropriate.

PART II – BIBLE STUDY

What does the Bible say about using drugs?

There are over 250 references to wine or ‘strong drink’ in the Bible (see www.blueletterbible.org) but none to other drugs.

Two general principles can be identified which will help us judge whether we should use or condone the use of drugs including alcohol and tobacco: caring for ourselves and caring for others.

Caring for our own bodies

Will a substance damage our bodies? Will it affect our relationship with God? Christians are encouraged to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). Is this consistent with using any drug which affects the mind? At Pentecost (Acts 2) the disciples were completely filled with the Holy Spirit and in control. Drugs lessen control and alter the mind’s functioning. Christian teaching is completely clear about the need to stay as fit and healthy as possible so that we can better serve God. How we do this is left as a matter of personal decision.

Caring for others

Christian teaching is also clear about the important role of personal example. Even though Jesus has set us free (1 Corinthians 10:23 – 11:1), where Paul writes “so whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (v 31) he qualifies this by saying “Do not cause anyone to stumble …. For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, so that they may be saved” (v 32-33). It is a clear Biblical principle that what we are influences others …. but the responsibility of choosing what we do remains ours. Doing something on behalf of others is an experience of grace.

HELPFUL HINTS

Source material for more study can be found in the sermons in the Worship section and also in the Theology Hub.

We recommend involving the group as much as possible, whether by sharing the reading of references or dividing into smaller groups.

CONCLUSION

You might say that the whole issue of drugs is bound up with Christian lifestyle and holiness and that a Christian approach should be focused on grace and not legalism.

Ask if everyone has found out what they wanted to know. If not, either discuss or promise to find out or give them a contact number.

Ask if they want to do anything else on a future occasion such as:

• Work out a Church Action Plan for their church and its organisations.

• Organise another Bible study based on the Wilderness Experience by Dr M L Nicholls

• Organise a drug awareness session for parents and carers (see Part III below)

PART III – PARENTING

 Family Life, Looking at Prevention and Child Development

 Start by explaining that schools are involved in education about alcohol, tobacco, solvents and illegal drugs.  Drug education is part of the national curriculum.

 Say that you are going to talk about what this means for the family.

 To do this, you are going to use the questions provided.  Hand out the questions and ask for people to report back if there are sub-groups.

 HELPFUL HINTS 

You may find that discussion in the basic drug awareness session starts to cover family life.  You can then move easily into this section by moving the discussion on naturally. 

It is essential that discussion starts quickly. 

Choose question(s) from the handout which reflect the ages of the children represented.  If the group spans more than one age group, then allocate different questions.  If the group is eight or more, split up into smaller groups.  Remember to allow time to report back.  Do not participate in the discussion as an ‘expert’ drug adviser. 

Don’t worry if the conversation moves on to non-drug parenting issues.  Dealing with drug prevention in a family setting calls for the use of general parenting skills.  It is all right to talk about these skills in other contexts (as long as you then apply them to dealing with drug issues).

 CONCLUSION

 Hope UK’s Parents’ Action Plan contains specific ideas about how to talk with children (and young people).  Emphasise that family life is a continual process and relationship building is important so that parents and children are more able to cope with difficult matters when they arise.  It is important to be available for children when they want you. 

Ask if everyone has found out what they wanted to know.  If not, either discuss or promise to find out or give them a contact number. 

Ask if they want to do anything else on a future occasion such as: 

• Work out a Church Action Plan for their church and its organisations.
• Organise a Bible study (as above).
• Organise another session like this for others. 

TIME TO REFLECT

You may already close your meetings with a prayer.

Alternatively, you could use the ideas in the prayer section of the Worship page or the Hope UK Prayer Diary.