Skip to main content
Mental Health Awareness Modules

Substance Use

A practical three-hour course for organisations and groups that want people to better understand substance use and addiction, recognise when someone may need support and respond with greater confidence and less judgement.

Enquire about this course
Duration 3 hours
Group size 8–20 people
Delivery Interactive group training
Location Across Scotland
Overview

About this course

Alcohol and drugs can affect people in very different ways, and substance use does not sit neatly apart from mental health. Difficulties can overlap with experiences such as anxiety or depression, affect day-to-day life and relationships, and sometimes make it harder for someone to recognise when they need support.

The way we respond matters too. Substance use is often surrounded by judgement, assumptions about willpower and stereotypes about the people affected. Those attitudes can add to stigma and make conversations or help-seeking more difficult.

This three-hour module looks at substance use and addiction in a practical mental health context. Participants explore some of the factors that can contribute to substance use, signs that someone may be struggling, ways to approach conversations without judgement, and the support and recovery options that may be available.

Is this course right for your group?

Designed for

Workplaces, professional teams, community organisations and other groups that want people to feel better informed and more confident when substance use or addiction becomes part of a mental health conversation.

Particularly useful if

  • People are unsure how to approach someone they are concerned about.
  • Assumptions about willpower, blame or personal responsibility may be influencing attitudes towards substance use.
  • Your group would benefit from a clearer understanding of how substance use and mental health can interact.
  • People want to recognise signs that someone may be struggling without jumping to conclusions.
  • You want conversations about alcohol, drugs and addiction to feel more informed, supportive and less judgemental.
For your organisation

What this can help your organisation achieve

More confident conversations

Give people a clearer foundation for approaching concerns about alcohol, drugs or substance use without avoiding the subject or making assumptions.

A more informed and less judgemental approach

Help challenge some of the stigma, stereotypes and ideas about personal weakness that can shape responses to addiction and substance use.

Clearer routes to appropriate support

Help people understand their role, recognise when further help may be needed and feel clearer about directing someone towards appropriate professional or specialist support.

Outcomes

What you’ll learn

Understand substance use and addiction

Explore some of the biological, psychological and environmental factors that can contribute to substance use, dependence and addiction.

Recognise possible signs of difficulty

Consider some of the changes, behaviours and warning signs that may suggest alcohol or drug use is becoming a problem for someone.

Approach conversations without judgement

Develop a more thoughtful approach to talking with someone about substance use, including the importance of listening, empathy and avoiding assumptions.

Think about safety and appropriate support

Consider how to respond when there are immediate concerns, where personal boundaries sit and when urgent or specialist help may be needed.

Understand recovery and ongoing support

Explore different forms of treatment and support, and the role that friends, colleagues, families and wider support networks can play without taking on responsibilities that belong to professionals.

Course content

What we’ll cover

Understanding substance use and addiction

We look at some of the different factors that can contribute to substance use, dependence and addiction, and why simple explanations based on willpower or personal weakness can be misleading.

Recognising signs and warning signs

We explore some of the signs that may indicate someone is experiencing difficulties with alcohol or drugs, while recognising that no single sign tells the whole story.

Communication without judgement

We consider how to approach a conversation, listen well and respond in ways that do not add to shame, stigma or isolation.

Crisis situations and safety

We look at situations where substance use may create an immediate concern and consider personal safety, boundaries and when urgent or specialist help is needed.

Recovery, support and stigma

We explore the different forms support and recovery can take, and how the attitudes of people around someone can either make seeking help easier or add another barrier.

Looking after yourself when supporting others

Supporting someone experiencing difficulties with alcohol or drugs can be demanding. The session includes space to consider boundaries, self-care and the importance of not trying to carry responsibility alone.

Course format

What to expect

Three-hour session

A focused three-hour module with time to explore the subject without requiring a full-day course.

Small groups

Groups are usually kept to 8–16 people, allowing time for discussion, questions and participation.

Interactive learning

The session uses a mixture of presentation, group discussion, case studies, videos and practical activities rather than relying on slides alone.

Respectful discussion

Clear expectations around confidentiality and respect help participants ask questions and discuss a subject that can sometimes carry stigma or judgement.

Green Ribbons

Why Green Ribbons?

Green Ribbons was founded by Jean Pryde after 30 years working in mental health settings. That experience sits behind a practical, plain-speaking approach to training that takes difficult subjects seriously without making them harder to talk about than they need to be.

Based in Moray and working across Scotland, Green Ribbons has delivered training for organisations including Diageo, Macallan and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, alongside professional bodies and community groups.

Booking

What happens next

1

Tell us what you're looking for

Tell us a little about your organisation or group, who the training is for and what you would like it to help with.

2

We'll talk it through

We'll discuss whether this module is the right fit, answer your questions and talk through the practical arrangements.

3

Arrange the training

If you'd like to go ahead, we'll agree the date, location and arrangements with you.

Enquire

Interested in this training?

Tell us a little about your group and what you’re looking for. We can talk through whether this course is the right fit and the practical arrangements.

You’re enquiring about Substance Use

    Font
    Off On
    Size
    revert
    Content
    Color
    revert
    Links
    Color
    revert