Therapeutic Care & Wellbeing
Drugs and Alcohol Abuse
Substance use among young people in residential care is common, and staff responses often swing between panic and permissiveness. This course explains how alcohol and cannabis affect a developing brain, the realities of dependency, and the risks of smoking and vaping. It pairs those facts with the relationship skills that make a young person willing to talk to you.
It includes clinical perspectives on the risks and a clear look at what treatment and support are available.
At a glance
What this course covers
- Explain what problem drinking is, how alcohol affects the body, and why adolescence increases the risk of harm.
- Describe cannabis use, dependency and its effects on young people's mental health.
- Assess the health and social implications of smoking, vaping and wider substance use, and support a young person who wants to stop.
- Separate common myths from evidence about drugs and alcohol, and explain the treatment options available.
Who it is for
Residential support workers, senior support workers, team leaders and Registered Managers working in children's homes.
How it works in Nest Learn
Build more confident, consistent care
This course sits alongside a growing library of therapeutic care and wellbeing training, with progress and evidence tracked in Nest Learn.