This paper intends to provide governors, head teachers and teachers with practical guidelines on how to help them implement holistic life-skills based education programmes to ensure young people build resilience to alcohol and drug use. As evidence shows that alcohol and drug education alone is ineffective, there is a need for an appropriate balance between knowledge and skills elements within the curricula, as well as for parents and cares involvement wherever possible. Critical to the impact of this learning process is raising awareness and ensuring a comprehensive and balanced approach based on life skills education. Mentor promotes best prevention practices around alcohol and drugs misuse.

This briefing paper is part of a series of resources available for teachers, facilitators and leadership roles. The principal objective is to enable healthy development and attitude towards risky situations, specifically with regards to alcohol and drug use.