Drugs Education

Our Drugs Education programme is designed to help young people make safer and healthier choices.

About the
Programme

The Drugs Education Programme aims to give young people the opportunity to develop their knowledge , skills and understanding about drugs and alcohol, empowering them to reach their full potential in society.

To build upon this increased knowledge the Programme offers interactive fact-based sessions delivered into schools on an outreach basis. The programme aims to dispel myths and provide facts around both legal and illegal substances to reduce the risks associated with their use.

To find out more about the Drugs Education Programme send us an email.

Discover how our Drugs Education Programme has benefitted the local community

Although primarily outreach-based, the project is an expansion of the Trust’s Poison Garden tours which provide information on drug-related plants’ use and misuse. This space uses the analogy of plant toxicity to highlight the risks of substance use in an engaging and memorable way. By linking drugs to their plant origins, we help to break down the barriers, spark curiosity, and encourage meaningful conversations.

429 young people engaged directly with the outreach Drugs Education programme. Following the sessions, young people reported that they had:

An increased knowledge of the health risks linked to drug and alcohol use.

Explored reasons for substance use and positive alternatives.

Considered wider harms, including legal and social consequences.

95,975 visitors experienced The Poison Garden in 2024/25, all receiving information about the drug related plants within.

Stories & Impacts

Discover how our Drugs Education Programme has benefitted the local community

DCHS Wellbeing, Food and Health

“Our good friend Lisa from Alnwick Garden delivering her fantastic drug and alcohol sessions across KS3. These interactive workshops always generate positive responses from young people and provide them with factual and age appropriate information designed to encourage safe and healthy lifestyle choices”

Meet the Team

Lisa Winter

Wellbeing Programme Officer

Hi my name is Lisa, and I am the Wellbeing Officer for Young People at The Alnwick Garden! I am passionate about nurturing both plants and people. I lead vital drug education workshops, utilising the garden’s unique resources to equip young people with the honest knowledge and resilience tools they need to make safe, informed life choices. In addition to substance awareness education, I run our “Seed to Table” Roots and Shoots vegetable growing programme, helping school groups and families with SEND children learn about healthy eating through growing vegetables completely from scratch. I help school children and Special Educational Needs (SEN) students build confidence, develop vital sensory skills, and connect deeply with nature. I am passionate about creating inclusive, safe environments where every young person can discover their strengths and thrive.

How your donation can help

Any donation, large or small will help us to support young people in making safer and healthier choices. A donation means we can increase knowledge of the health risks associated to drug and alcohol use and support young people into a brighter future.

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