Substances & Risky Behaviours Lessons for Schools

Help pupils recognise pressures, understand the effects of alcohol, drugs, vaping and gambling, and make safer, informed decisions.

Explore 22+ ready-to-teach Substances & Risky Behaviours lessons for UK primary and secondary schools, covering alcohol, drugs, vaping, smoking and nicotine, gambling, addiction, the law and media influence. These lesson plans use clear, factual and non-judgmental language to help pupils understand effects, recognise peer and social pressures, and think critically about risk. Across the stages, these lessons build from simple, foundational awareness in primary through to more detailed and sensitive content in lower and upper secondary. Early lessons introduce healthy choices and basic understanding, while secondary lessons explore dependence, legal consequences and the influence of media on substance use in more depth.

Primary • Secondary • PSHE • RSHE • Wellbeing • Health • Substance Awareness

Why this topic matters in schools

Substances and risky behaviours are part of the social world pupils grow up in, so schools need to teach them clearly.

Pupils encounter messages about alcohol, vaping, drugs and gambling long before they face real decisions, and those messages are often mixed, misleading or driven by peers and media. Teaching pupils to understand effects, recognise pressure and weigh consequences gives them a foundation to make safer choices. These are skills that need to be taught, practised and revisited over time, not left until something goes wrong.

This topic matters in schools because it helps pupils:

recognise how peer influence and media shape choices
understand the physical, social and legal consequences of substance use
separate accurate information from myths and marketing
identify when and where to seek help or support
build confidence to make informed, safer decisions

For teachers and school leaders, the Substances & Risky Behaviours lesson set offers a structured, evidence-informed way to teach these topics proactively, reinforcing wellbeing, safety and healthy decision-making before issues arise.

Each lesson is ready-to-teach with an on-screen flow, so teachers do not need to research facts or build resources from scratch. This is particularly valuable for topics where accuracy matters. Teachers can pick up a lesson and deliver it with minimal preparation.

Building a planned substance education sequence
Teachers need lessons that connect alcohol, vaping, drugs and gambling into a coherent progression rather than one-off talks. The lesson set groups related topics so learning can build logically across a term or year.
Introducing complex ideas clearly
Concepts such as addiction, dependence and legal consequences can be difficult to explain well. These lessons break them down into accessible, age-appropriate steps that support confident delivery.
Correcting common misconceptions
Pupils often arrive with inaccurate beliefs about vaping, alcohol or party drugs. Lessons like The Truth About Vaping and Informed Drug & Alcohol Choices give teachers factual, balanced content to address myths directly.
Facilitating sensitive discussion safely
Teaching about substances requires careful, non-judgmental framing. Built-in discussion prompts and clear guidance help teachers keep conversations honest, calm and focused on decision-making.
Connecting learning to real pupil experience
Topics such as gambling traps and media influence link lessons to the pressures pupils actually encounter online and among peers. This helps make learning feel relevant rather than abstract.
Choosing content for cohort readiness
Topics such as gambling traps and media influence link lessons to the pressures pupils actually encounter online and among peers. This helps make learning feel relevant rather than abstract.
Revisiting topics after they have been introduced
Substance education benefits from being returned to as pupils grow older. The lesson set makes it straightforward to revisit and deepen understanding across year groups.

Building a planned substance education sequence
Teachers need lessons that connect alcohol, vaping, drugs and gambling into a coherent progression rather than one-off talks. The lesson set groups related topics so learning can build logically across a term or year.
Introducing complex ideas clearly
Concepts such as addiction, dependence and legal consequences can be difficult to explain well. These lessons break them down into accessible, age-appropriate steps that support confident delivery.
Correcting common misconceptions
Pupils often arrive with inaccurate beliefs about vaping, alcohol or party drugs. Lessons like The Truth About Vaping and Informed Drug & Alcohol Choices give teachers factual, balanced content to address myths directly.
Facilitating sensitive discussion safely
Teaching about substances requires careful, non-judgmental framing. Built-in discussion prompts and clear guidance help teachers keep conversations honest, calm and focused on decision-making.
Connecting learning to real pupil experience
Topics such as gambling traps and media influence link lessons to the pressures pupils actually encounter online and among peers. This helps make learning feel relevant rather than abstract.
Choosing content for cohort readiness
Topics such as gambling traps and media influence link lessons to the pressures pupils actually encounter online and among peers. This helps make learning feel relevant rather than abstract.
Revisiting topics after they have been introduced
Substance education benefits from being returned to as pupils grow older. The lesson set makes it straightforward to revisit and deepen understanding across year groups.

Browse by stage

Find Substances & Risky Behaviours lessons that match the age group you teach.

Primary school

Lower secondary lessons grow in complexity, covering alcohol, drugs, vaping, smoking and gambling in more detail. Pupils explore effects, peer influence and the reasons behind risky choices.

Primary school

Lower secondary lessons grow in complexity, covering alcohol, drugs, vaping, smoking and gambling in more detail. Pupils explore effects, peer influence and the reasons behind risky choices.

Lower secondary

Lower secondary lessons grow in complexity, covering alcohol, drugs, vaping, smoking and gambling in more detail. Pupils explore effects, peer influence and the reasons behind risky choices.

Upper secondary

Upper secondary lessons address more advanced and sensitive issues, including dependence, addiction, prescription misuse, party drugs and the law. Content supports critical thinking about consequences and informed decision-making.

Upper secondary

Browse by subtopic

Explore these lesson plans by the topic area you need most.

Alcohol, Drugs & Vaping

The core of the lesson set, covering alcohol, drugs, vaping, smoking and nicotine, and addiction. Lessons focus on effects, risks and making safer, informed choices.

Media Influence on Substance Use

A lesson exploring how media, advertising and social pressures shape attitudes to substances. Supports critical thinking about the messages pupils encounter.

Drug & Alcohol Laws

Lessons that explain the legal side of substance use in the UK, including drug laws and the difference between legal and illegal substances. Useful for helping pupils understand consequences beyond health.

Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Lessons that place substance decisions within wider healthy living, connecting choices to physical health and wellbeing. A helpful entry point for framing the topic positively.

Alcohol, Drugs & Vaping

The core of the lesson set, covering alcohol, drugs, vaping, smoking and nicotine, and addiction. Lessons focus on effects, risks and making safer, informed choices.

Drug & Alcohol Laws

Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Lessons that place substance decisions within wider healthy living, connecting choices to physical health and wellbeing. A helpful entry point for framing the topic positively.

Media Influence on Substance Use

A lesson exploring how media, advertising and social pressures shape attitudes to substances. Supports critical thinking about the messages pupils encounter.

Alcohol, Drugs & Vaping

The core of the lesson set, covering alcohol, drugs, vaping, smoking and nicotine, and addiction. Lessons focus on effects, risks and making safer, informed choices.

Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Lessons that place substance decisions within wider healthy living, connecting choices to physical health and wellbeing. A helpful entry point for framing the topic positively.

Drug & Alcohol Laws

Media Influence on Substance Use

A lesson exploring how media, advertising and social pressures shape attitudes to substances. Supports critical thinking about the messages pupils encounter.

Alcohol, Drugs & Vaping

The core of the lesson set, covering alcohol, drugs, vaping, smoking and nicotine, and addiction. Lessons focus on effects, risks and making safer, informed choices.

Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Lessons that place substance decisions within wider healthy living, connecting choices to physical health and wellbeing. A helpful entry point for framing the topic positively.

Drug & Alcohol Laws

Media Influence on Substance Use

A lesson exploring how media, advertising and social pressures shape attitudes to substances. Supports critical thinking about the messages pupils encounter.

A few strong starting points from these lesson plans.

Alcohol

Builds pupils' understanding of common drugs, associated risks and how to make safer choices.

Alcohol

Builds pupils' understanding of common drugs, associated risks and how to make safer choices.

Drug Awareness

Builds pupils' understanding of common drugs, associated risks and how to make safer choices.

Drug Awareness

Builds pupils' understanding of common drugs, associated risks and how to make safer choices.

Drugs

Gives pupils a clear, factual overview of different drugs and their effects on the body and behaviour.

Drugs

Gives pupils a clear, factual overview of different drugs and their effects on the body and behaviour.

Informed Drug & Alcohol Choices

Supports students to weigh information, consider consequences and make safer, informed decisions.

Informed Drug & Alcohol Choices

Supports students to weigh information, consider consequences and make safer, informed decisions.

Alcohol Dependence & Excessive Drinking

Helps students understand how alcohol dependence develops and the signs and impacts of excessive drinking.

Alcohol Dependence & Excessive Drinking

Helps students understand how alcohol dependence develops and the signs and impacts of excessive drinking.

Choosing content for cohort readiness

Explains how addiction works and its effects on individuals and those around them.

Choosing content for cohort readiness

Explains how addiction works and its effects on individuals and those around them.

Gambling Addiction

Unpacks how gambling can become harmful and where to seek support.

Gambling Addiction

Unpacks how gambling can become harmful and where to seek support.

The Truth About Vaping

Provides accurate, balanced information about vaping to help pupils separate facts from marketing and myths.

The Truth About Vaping

Provides accurate, balanced information about vaping to help pupils separate facts from marketing and myths.

Teaching outcomes supported

These lessons support more than topic knowledge alone. They help schools build the understanding, critical thinking and decision-making skills pupils need to navigate real situations involving substances and risk.

These lessons can support outcomes such as:

Understanding substances and their effects
identify common substances including alcohol, drugs, vaping and nicotine
explain how substances affect the body, behaviour and health
describe how addiction and dependence develop
recognise the risks associated with gambling
Thinking critically about risk and influence
recognise how peer pressure and media shape attitudes to substances
compare accurate information with myths and marketing messages
evaluate the short and long-term consequences of risky choices
discuss why people make different decisions about substances
Making informed and safer decisions
apply decision-making strategies to realistic scenarios
explain the legal consequences of substance use in the UK
identify sources of help and support
demonstrate confidence in choosing safer options under pressure

These outcomes are supported across 22+ lessons, making the Substances & Risky Behaviours lesson set useful across PSHE, wellbeing, pastoral and safeguarding contexts.

Why teachers use these resources

Substances and risky behaviours are part of the social world pupils grow up in, so schools need to teach them clearly.

They save planning time

Each lesson is ready-to-teach with structure, discussion prompts and teaching guidance already prepared. This removes the need to research accurate, harm-informed content from scratch and lets teachers focus on delivery.

They cover the full breadth of the topic in one place

Concepts such as addiction, dependence and legal consequences can be difficult to explain well. These lessons break them down into accessible, age-appropriate steps that support confident delivery.

They support confident delivery across different experience levels

Built-in discussion prompts, teacher scripts and teaching guidance help teachers approach sensitive content calmly and clearly. This supports staff who are new to a topic as well as those who teach it regularly. The structure keeps conversations focused and factual.

They work across year levels and different school settings

Content is grouped from primary through to upper secondary, so lessons can be matched to cohort maturity and readiness. Teachers can select the right depth for their group. The same lesson set serves different classes and contexts.

They support proactive teaching, not just reactive responses

Lessons are designed to build knowledge and decision-making skills before pupils face real situations. Teaching happens as planned learning rather than only after concerns arise. This helps schools embed substance education into their wider curriculum.

They save planning time

They cover the full breadth of the topic in one place

Concepts such as addiction, dependence and legal consequences can be difficult to explain well. These lessons break them down into accessible, age-appropriate steps that support confident delivery.

They support confident delivery across different experience levels

They work across year levels and different school settings

They support proactive teaching, not just reactive responses

They save planning time

They support confident delivery across different experience levels

They support proactive teaching, not just reactive responses

They cover the full breadth of the topic in one place

Concepts such as addiction, dependence and legal consequences can be difficult to explain well. These lessons break them down into accessible, age-appropriate steps that support confident delivery.

They work across year levels and different school settings

With 22+ lessons created by psychologists and experienced teachers, the lesson set gives schools a dependable foundation for teaching substances and risky behaviours.

Designed for real school settings

These resources are built for the reality of school use, not just for covering a topic on paper.

They are designed to help teachers teach Substances & Risky Behaviours in ways that are:

age-appropriate

classroom-friendly

discussion starters that open up honest, factual conversations

transition points where pupils face new social pressures

revisiting key concepts such as addiction, risk and the law across year groups

responsive teaching after a topic has already been introduced through planned lessons

Schools can use these lessons in both planned wellbeing teaching and more responsive pastoral support.

planned PSHE and wellbeing lessons as part of a structured programme

tutor time and form-group sessions on substances and risk

revisiting key topics such as vaping or alcohol as cohorts mature

transition points where new pressures or social settings emerge

pastoral and advisory sessions that build on planned teaching

responsive follow-up after a topic has already been introduced

Curriculum/Framework Support teachers use these resources

Substances & Risky Behaviours can support a wide range of school priorities and curriculum areas in UK schools.

Depending on stage and school context, these lessons may contribute to:

PSHE and RSHE health and wellbeing learning

safeguarding and protective behaviours education

drug, alcohol and tobacco education

pastoral, tutor-time and school culture programmes

pupil wellbeing, self-management and help-seeking

transition, resilience and support planning

PSHE and RSHE health and wellbeing learning

safeguarding and protective behaviours education

drug, alcohol and tobacco education

pastoral, tutor-time and school culture programmes

pupil wellbeing, self-management and help-seeking

transition, resilience and support planning

PSHE and RSHE health and wellbeing learning

drug, alcohol and tobacco education

pupil wellbeing, self-management and help-seeking

safeguarding and protective behaviours education

pastoral, tutor-time and school culture programmes

transition, resilience and support planning

PSHE and RSHE health and wellbeing learning

drug, alcohol and tobacco education

pupil wellbeing, self-management and help-seeking

safeguarding and protective behaviours education

pastoral, tutor-time and school culture programmes

transition, resilience and support planning

These lessons can support planned curriculum, wellbeing, pastoral and safeguarding teaching, depending on stage and school context.

Frequently asked questions

What age groups are these lessons suitable for?
These lessons span primary through to upper secondary, with content grouped by stage. Suitability depends on lesson focus, developmental appropriateness, cohort needs and the trust already established in the classroom, not age alone. Primary lessons keep to foundational awareness, while more detailed and sensitive content sits in secondary.

What age groups are these lessons suitable for?
These lessons span primary through to upper secondary, with content grouped by stage. Suitability depends on lesson focus, developmental appropriateness, cohort needs and the trust already established in the classroom, not age alone. Primary lessons keep to foundational awareness, while more detailed and sensitive content sits in secondary.

How do these lessons fit into the curriculum?

How do I choose the right lesson?

Is Wellio aligned with RSHE and PSHE requirements?

How is sensitive content handled?

Can these lessons be used after an incident or concern?

Related Lessons

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Helps students think about identity, bias and respect in online communities, which connects closely to digital behaviour and media literacy.
Sex & Relationships Education
Supports deeper teaching on consent, image sharing and safe online relationships, especially for upper secondary students.
Keeping Safe & First Aid
Complements risk education by building practical safety knowledge and knowing what to do in an emergency.

Healthy Relationships & Communication
Helps students build self-awareness and values that connect to identity, belonging and agency.
Diversity, Equality & Society
Helps students think about identity, bias and respect in online communities, which connects closely to digital behaviour and media literacy.
Sex & Relationships Education
Supports deeper teaching on consent, image sharing and safe online relationships, especially for upper secondary students.
Keeping Safe & First Aid
Complements risk education by building practical safety knowledge and knowing what to do in an emergency.

Keeping Safe & First Aid
Complements risk education by building practical safety knowledge and knowing what to do in an emergency.
Sex & Relationships Education
Supports deeper teaching on consent, image sharing and safe online relationships, especially for upper secondary students.
Diversity, Equality & Society
Helps students think about identity, bias and respect in online communities, which connects closely to digital behaviour and media literacy.
Healthy Relationships & Communication
Helps students build self-awareness and values that connect to identity, belonging and agency.

Find Substances & Risky Behaviours lessons that fit your pupils

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