Drugs: Health Education
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the support systems available to schools for educating students on the health risks associated with the use of recreational drugs.
Answered by Department for Education
The updated relationships, sex and health education statutory guidance was published in July 2025 and includes curriculum content on drugs and alcohol. Schools are required to teach the new content from September 2026.
The statutory curriculum for health education requires all pupils in state-maintained schools to be taught the facts about legal and illegal harmful substances and the associated risks to physical and mental wellbeing, including those due to smoking, alcohol use and drug-taking. This complements content about substances taught in the science curriculum.
The department has worked with the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities and the PSHE Association to make sure good quality teaching resources are available for teachers delivering drug, alcohol and tobacco education. We have also commissioned Oak Academy to make lesson materials which reflect the new guidance freely available.
Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →