Individual Paper: The key features of effective drug, alcohol and tobacco education: The absence of craving

Abstract

Schools in England and Wales are required to teach a comprehensive drugs education programme in key stages 1 through to 4. A number of information sources are available to teachers covering the key features of effective drug, alcohol and tobacco education. A notable absence in the information available to teachers is the concept of ‘craving’. For many craving is central to drug use behaviour and will inevitably form a part of discussions concerning drug use and abuse. This article considers what craving is, what its importance in drug use behaviour is, and suggests that exclusion of specific reference to the term ‘craving’ is perhaps sensible given the uncertainty of it as a construct, but an appreciation of the complexity is necessary for appropriate drugs education.