About the course

Drugs workers encounter cannabis more frequently than any other controlled drug. Despite this, many workers feel under confident when addressing cannabis use. Some workers may not feel that cannabis use is an issue, while others may believe that there is little scope for education, harm reduction or addressing dependency. This course attempts to address these misconceptions and help workers engage more effectively with cannabis use. This course is suitable for workers engaging with cannabis users. This includes young recreational users through to more entrenched users. Workers will not need to have had previous drugs training but this will be useful. This course is interactive, involving a taught section, work in pairs and groups and whole group discussions. There will be comprehensive course documentation

Course Content

This course will cover in full, or part the DANOS modules:

• AA1 Recognise indications of substance misuse and refer individuals to specialists
• AA2 Establish, sustain and disengage from relationships with individuals
• AB2 Support individuals who are substance users
• AC1 Develop your own knowledge and practice
• AD1 Raise awareness about substances their use and effects
• AI2 Help individuals address their substance use through an action plan

Plus an evaluation of the course

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course participants will:

• Be familiar with types of cannabis, and the variances in strength and quality
• Understand the effects of cannabis use
• Awareness of trends of cannabis use, especially amongst younger people
• Understand cannabis risks and how to address these
• Understand cannabis dependency and how to respond to this
• Be able to implement harm reduction strategies with users
• Be more confident in discussing cannabis with users
• Be able to understand the legal framework as applied to cannabis
• Understand in more detail the interface between cannabis and mental health
• Be aware of the law as it relates to cannabis

Kevin is an independent trainer with significant and varied experience. He was the Director of Release and formerly the Senior Project Worker for the Inclusion Project at Release. He also worked for the Hungerford Project and the Big Issue. He has worked with many organisations in the North on projects, especially seminars for managers (Premises, Drugs, Law and Good Practice: Managing the Misuse of Drugs on your Premises) with HPAS and the Housing and Drugs Conference in Bradford  with the Bridge Project. Kevin has written "Room for Drugs" (1999) and "Smokin' Whispers" (1997).