NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde      

 There's no doubt that alcohol abuse is a major problem for many communities across Greater Glasgow and Clyde. 

And it's one that affects many people from all walks of life and backgrounds.

This year, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) will continue working with councils, the police and other organisations to try and change our heavy drinking culture.

One way we are doing this is through a unique anti-alcohol misuse project that's been a huge success in Glasgow's East End schools.

Teaching

NHSGGC's Greater Easterhouse Alcohol Awareness Project's (GEAAP) Prevention and Education project sees trained Prevention and Education Officers go into the classroom to teach youngsters about the dangers of underage drinking.

They teach pupils about a range of issues surrounding the misuse of alcohol including:
* Health and how alcohol affects your body
* How alcohol affects the way you act
* How personal safety can be jeopardised when drunk
* How alcohol can impact on your life chances (eg getting a job or going to college)
* Crime and violence when under the influence of alcohol
* Peer pressure

The youngsters not only work from a specially written workbook, but also get to take part in role-playing scenarios involving the misuse of alcohol, are taught ways of avoiding potentially dangerous situations and learn how to be assertive and say no when being pressurised into taking a drink.

Schools

Twenty primary and secondary schools in the Greater Easterhouse area take part in the project, which has been running for 14 years and complements Glasgow's Health Primary Drug and Alcohol Education pack, which is produced by NHSGGC, Glasgow City Council and Strathclyde Police.

GEAAP Prevention and Education Officer, David Kelly said: "We see the kids in Primary 6, 7 and First Year of secondary school. In some secondary schools, we see the kids right through until they finish.

"We deliver a serious message in a fun and non-preachy way and the kids seem to enjoy it.

"We talk to them about the dangers of underage drinking of alcohol and deliver the education package from a harm reduction perspective. We know that, at some point, most of them will want to try alcohol. What we're trying to do is equip them with the right type of information so that they can make sensible decisions about drinking.

"One of the most worthwhile parts of this job is knowing that our messages are reaching the kids. We know through working with them over several years that they do take in the advice and information we give them and, hopefully, put them to good use."

Award

And it seems to be working. The project gets great feedback from the schools and the young people themselves.

It also recently won a Mentor UK Misuse Prevention Award (Primary Schools category) for the work it does in Greater Easterhouse.

What the kids think...

Recently David was teaching a P6/7 class at Blairtumnock Primary School.

Pupil James Pews (11) said he found the course "really exciting" and said he "enjoyed it".

Classmate, Chloe Cuthill (11) also enjoyed the course, adding: "It makes you think about things that you hadn't thought of before."

Tammy Hood (10) said the course was fun.

"I'm learning a lot from it," she said, "and it's changed the way I think about alcohol."

Scott Gibson (11) added: "I've learned a lot too and David's good fun."

Pictured:  David Kelly with the pupils of Blairtumnock Primary School.