Somerset Public Health Alcohol and Drugs Student Survey

A survey conducted by Public Health in Somerset in 2024 gathered information from those that have recently finished secondary school to hear children and young people’s thoughts on alcohol and drugs. 

Students from Bridgwater & Taunton college, Richard Huish, Strode College and Yeovil College participated.

From the survey results, four areas where identified where we can provide additional support

•            Real life stories/Statistics
•         Long term harm/Impact on others
•         Physical effect of drugs/alcohol
•         Broader understanding of the issues and impact/More information

Real life stories/Statistics

Under this category, participants expressed am interest in finding out more about drugs and alcohol from those with lived experience and Somerset statistics.

“Testimonies from people who have actually struggled with addiction. I felt like most of what was said was from an outside perspective, which was helpful but didn’t really help me grasp how serious addiction actually was. It wasn’t until I saw how it affected people I knew that I started thinking of addiction as a serious mental illness.”

Long term harm/Impact on others

Comments were about the long time effects both physically and mentally and life impacting health conditions. As well of the broader impact on those around them.

“I think we should be shown the real true dangers of what can happen after taking drugs or drinking alcohol. I also do not think schools talk about the effects it has when a child takes these such things as the brain is still developing. so I think it would be helpful if schools spoke about the subject more to help students understand the real dangers of what it can do to you in the long term.”

Physical effect of drugs/alcohol

Participants expressed an interest in finding out about the effects of various drugs and alcohol.

Broader understanding of the issues and impact/More information

Comments under this category expressed a need for more information on either drugs or alcohol.

“I think that lessons focus to much on the negatives and don’t prepare you for what to do if you get carried away or pressured into using alcohol or drugs. Teachers know that students are using alcohol and possibly drugs but avoid the subject because it is taboo.”

 View the full findings from our 2024 Student Survey Results here - 2024 Student Survey Results.pdf