Addiction – Lesson 3 – Addiction and the law

Starter: Bingo!

I will read out a definition or question and you have

to cross out the word you think is the correct
answer. If you get four in a row, vertically or
horizontally (not diagonally!) then you shout out
BINGO!

Everyone’s card is different, and everyone also has

a square that says ‘Free!’ this square can be used to
make up a line, like a wild card!
Cannabis 
Steroids

- The legal smoking age is 18.

Travelling to America, getting the job you want, working with children 
Laws in other countries
• Each country has different laws about the penalties for using, buying,
supplying, and importing/exporting drugs.
• As in the UK, the severity of punishment will depend on the kind of
drug, and what you were doing with the drug. Punishments for selling
and importing/exporting drugs are always the most severe.  
• Two countries with very different attitudes towards drugs are Portugal
and Dubai. 
Laws in other countries – Case studies
Portugal Dubai
• Decriminalised (made legal) the possession of drugs • Has a zero-tolerance policy for any drug-related
for personal use. offences. 
• This means that people are given alternative • This includes the use, possession, supply, and
punishments such as a fine, being banned from import/export of any drug. 
visiting certain places (like clubs) or being unable to
• You can be sentenced to death for bringing drugs into
travel outside of Portugal. 
Dubai.
• If the person is shown to be an addict, they may be
• There is a minimum sentence of 4 years in prison for
given the opportunity to enter a rehabilitation
the possession of illegal drugs - and just having the
programme or carry out community service. 
presence of drugs in your blood counts as possession. 
• People found to be supplying or importing/exporting
drugs still receive significant criminal sentences in
prison.  Who do you think has the right approach? Why?
Impacts of addiction
Towards the end of the video, Emma mentioned that often people think about
the personal impacts and risks of dependent behaviours. 

Who else can our behaviour impact? In what ways?

Think. Pair. Share.

What can you do?
If you think someone you know might have a substance use disorder or a behavioural addiction,
talk to them. Prepare what you’re going to say. This will help you to stay calm while you use
various techniques including:

1. Show you are listening by expressing empathy (e.g., accepting difficult statements
without judging), using open body language, reflective statements (e.g., “so what
you’re saying is…”), and affirmative noises (e.g., “Uh-huh”)
2. Help the person to see that their current behaviour is problematic and how it conflicts
with their goals and values
3. Avoid argumentative or confrontational behaviour if the person is resistant 
4. Support any feelings of self-awareness and optimism 
What can you do?
• Remember that you can’t force someone to get help, you can only support them.
• Start the conversation very sensitively and in a space where the person feels comfortable with
a few people that the person trusts and feels comfortable with. 
• Stick to non-judgemental language by using “I feel…” statements to help the person
understand how their behaviour affects them and the people around them. 
• Make sure that the person doesn’t feel guilty about the situation they’re in. 
• If you are not related to the person, try to get them to seek help from their family.
• If the person’s family can’t or won’t help, support them to find help from an online
organisation.
• Always check in with yourself too: how do you feel about the situation? Do you feel capable
of helping and supporting the person? If not, consider speaking to an adult that you trust. 
How is addiction treated?
Rehabilitation:
• Working with professionals (e.g. doctors, therapists) to help a person overcome their addiction. 
• Usually in a clinical centre. 
• 3 phases: detox, therapy, and aftercare. Therapy will often include counselling to help the person understand
why they are getting involved with addictive substances or behaviours, and to help identify any underlying
problems. This often involves the whole family, to help them all understand the problem better and to help
deal with any problems at home.
Support groups:
• A group of people with shared experiences who get together at regular intervals to support each other to
overcome their substance use disorder or behavioural addiction.
Support organisations:
• We Are With You: https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk 
• Adfam: https://adfam.org.uk/
How is addiction treated?

It’s important to understand that if someone is in recovery from a substance

use disorder or a behavioural addiction, it can be a lifelong battle. The length
of time someone has been addicted can affect how long it takes for the
person to feel better and stay clean. If their dependence and reliance is
severe, the person might always need support to stay off the substance or
away from the behaviour. The amount of help they need will change over
time as people often find it easier to stay clean as time goes on. 
Exit Ticket
You have now completed the three lessons on addiction. Before leaving, please complete your final
exit ticket, with three things that you have learnt. 
Remember, you can keep this anonymous if you would prefer to. 

Over the last three lessons I have learnt

1.__________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

2.__________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

3.__________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

 
Support
• https://www.helpforaddicts.co.uk/
• https://www.gov.uk/penalties-drug-possession-dealing