Ask Jeanie: I work with a 14-year-old boy who attends a pupil referral unit (PRU). His mum thinks he has been smoking cannabis with some older boys at the unit but he denies it. What do I do?

25 November 2010 1 min read Social Care

In the spirit of "saying nothing about me without me", I would start by talking directly to the young man himself and asking him what is happening.

I would ask him whether he is smoking, what it is all about and whether he feels pressured into doing so by the older boys.

Do this as gently and as caringly as possible, making sure he knows you are concerned about him.

Talk to him about the potential consequences of using drugs, from both health and legal perspectives.

If self-esteem is an issue, think about ways of helping him to feel better about himself. Taking this approach will also give him the opportunity to share his feelings.

I would also check the PRU's policies on drug education and drug use. Is there a bigger issue here for the unit, and, if so, what are they doing to deal with it?

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