Blog
The DSM Foundation's take on current issues impacting on the world of drugs education... and occasional insight into Team Dan and our work as well.
Inaugural play tour of Northern Ireland made possible by the generosity of strangers… who became friends
Fiona writes: For two busy days in November last year, three of our team joined the crowds of people who flocked to the Larchfield Estate
Increase in young people who use drugs seeking treatment – good or bad news?
Data out last week shows the number of under 18s in drug and alcohol treatment in 2023-24 has risen by 16% from the previous year.
Analysis of the latest NHS Digital data on young people and drugs
A lot of the work we do at the DSM Foundation is around social norms: the context young people find themselves in when it comes
RSHE: looking beyond sex ed
In certain circles, Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) is always a hot topic. There is no doubt that the adults in the lives of
The possible impacts of easing restrictions on depictions of drug use on screen
Last month, the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) published its new guidelines on how it classifies films. This was informed by the organisation’s largest
Understanding the Tobacco and Vapes Bill
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill has gained a lot of publicity. In this blog, we look at the changes it is proposing, the impact these
Nitazenes: lethal and on UK streets
Any headline containing the phrase “super-strength street drugs” is attention-grabbing, and not in a good way. In recent months, such news stories have all seemed
Spiked vapes
A hot topic of the moment is the use of vapes containing something other than the usual e-liquid. In a way, this isn’t anything new:
Nicotine pouches – what’s the issue?
The pre-workshop survey that we ask older students to complete always makes interesting reading, and it has put a new product firmly on our radar:
Our survey told us…
Before we go into schools to speak to older students (Y11 and older, or equivalent in non-English schools), we ask them to complete a survey.
DSMF’s Scotland showcase event – a review
A year or so ago, the play of Dan’s story “I Love You Mum, I Promise I Won’t Die” did a tour of a few
The vaping conflict
When we are booked to deliver a drugs education workshop to students aged 15 years or older, we try and survey them beforehand. This is
Nitrous oxide – a game of two halves
The government’s announcement to make nitrous oxide illegal in England and Wales caught many people by surprise, including the Advisory Council on the Misuse of
Spiking – a sinister and under-reported crime
Spiking is one of the things we get asked about quite a lot during our workshops in schools. It is understandable, given the relative frequency
An often overlooked impact of drug use
Cigarette butts, used nitrous oxide canisters and discarded disposable vapes are common sights in our parks and on our pavements. This week’s blog gives some
Once more into the blogosphere…
Welcome to the DSM Foundation blog, a way of us putting out there some of the things we’d like to say but never seem to
