Breaking Confidentiality
Drugs and substance
misuse
Who do young people seek help and
advice from?
In your group make a list
of who you might seek
help from.
What are the advantages
of this person?
What are the
disadvantages of this
person?
Imagine your friend’s problem involved
alcohol, smoking, or illegal drugs.
• Why might your friend be involved with this?
• What are the benefits and problems of the
drug for them?
• Why might it be hard to help them?
• Who else could help?
In groups complete the table
Who do young
people seek
help and advice
from?’
What are the
advantages of
this person?
What are the
disadvantages
of this person?
Scenario Questions
Why might your friend be involved with this?
What are the benefits and problems of the
drug for them?
How can you support them?
Can you support them alone? Who else
could help?
At which point did their behaviour cross a
line for you?
Jonnie
Jonnie is 14 years old. He is a bright student and a
bit of a perfectionist. His parents expect him to
follow in the family tradition and become a
medical doctor. Recently he has been feeling
anxious as his father was critical when he came
second in a maths test. He has not been sleeping
and has found it hard to concentrate – he feels
sure his grades will start to slip. He has started
drinking after school and this makes him feel
better. He now has a drink to help him sleep at
night too. He is finding it harder to get up in the
morning and his mother keeps asking him what is
wrong. This makes him want to drink more. He
recently told you he was shop lifting to pay for
vodka. Jonnie says the alcohol is not a problem and
it is the only thing keeping him going. He has
sworn you to secrecy.
Ralucca
Ralucca is 13 years old. Her mum is an alcoholic
who refuses to get help – even though with help
she could get much better. Her mum is mostly
asleep or else out therefore Ralucca is able to
stay out late when ever she wants. She works
hard at school and the school understand that
sometimes she has to look after her mum and
can’t always hand homework in on time. She
‘de-stresses’ by binge drinking on a Friday and
Saturday night – the following mornings she
can’t remember where she’s been or what she’s
done. She relies on her cousin to get her home.
Last night she told you she ended up in A&E
when she fell over and bashed her head after
drinking. When you ask her about her drinking
at the weekends she says that it’s what
everyone does. She has begged you not to tell.
Amma
Amma is 14 years old and has been dating an older boy
for a year now, who she regularly drinks alcohol with. Her
boyfriend has officially dropped out to school last term.
She doesn’t get very drunk but is drinking more than the
recommended safe amount for adult women (there is no
safe recommended amount for young people). Last
month her boyfriend was taken into hospital with
vomiting and doctors diagnosed cirrhosis of the liver and
predicted that if he did not stop drinking he would die.
Amma is very scared and has started drinking more. You
had to promise not to tell anyone to get the story out of
her.
Homework
Notice examples from TV programmes/books
where confidentiality should have been broken.
Practice the ‘dos’ of good listening and support
when your friend or family member has a
problem.