Party pills and poppers may be legal but be aware of risks

PUPILS in Derby schools are to have lessons about the dangers of "legal high" drugs.

Sparked by fears that young people think it is safe to use such drugs as mephedrone, the lesson will be aimed at pupils in years seven to 11.

The synthetic stimulant was legal until April. Other legal highs the lesson will highlight are poppers and herbal party pills.

The idea has been developed by Derby City Council's healthy schools team after intense media coverage earlier this year about mephedrone, also known as Meow Meow, being linked to 18 deaths.

The lesson, which will be taught in schools before Christmas, has been developed in partnership with the Derby branch of drug treatment charity Addaction.

Jonathan Watson, project co-ordinator, said the main focus of the lesson would be raising awareness.

He said: "Legal drugs can be sold near schools and young people might think it is safe to use them.

"But the main message is, just because it is legal, it doesn't mean it is safe.

"All teachers will be given guidance and told what to deliver to the pupils.

"But if needs be, then Addaction workers can go into the schools and give the lesson."

Michelle Slater, the city council healthy schools' young persons' senior officer in drugs and alcohol, said the lessons are in response to Government advice issued earlier this year.

She said: "We need to continually support schools and pupils so this lesson was developed. It is a one-off lesson and teachers will be able to deliver it in a way they feel comfortable."

Ms Slater said not every school pupil would have to take part.

"If a school feels their younger pupils do not need the lesson then they can choose not to give it to them," she said.

During the summer holidays, Addaction workers offered secondary school staff advice on what to do if a pupil is found to have taken drugs during school-time.

The council's healthy schools team has also provided head teachers across the city with up-to-date national and local information on how to manage drug-related incidents related to mephedrone and legal highs.

Ash Venkatesh, acting head teacher at Littleover Community School, said it was important for pupils to understand the dangers.

He said: "The situation around legal highs is constantly changing, for example, new substances are on the market all the time.

"It is important we keep our advice to pupils up to date."

Mephedrone, a stimulant sold as plant food, was upgraded to a class B drug in April this year after 18 deaths in the UK were linked to it.