The Department for National Drug Control will speak with high school pupils as part of National Prevention Week.

A spokeswoman said that the National School Survey 2023 of middle and senior school students found that substance abuse was most common among older students, with alcohol and cannabis use being the most frequently reported.

She said that the use of alcohol ranged from 3.7 per cent among M2 students to 26 per cent among S4 students, while reported cannabis use ranged from 0.7 per cent among M2 students to 14.4 per cent among S4 students.

The spokeswoman said: “As a result, the DNDC Prevention Unit will specifically target the senior student populations who have the highest prevalence of current use.

“The Drug Prevention Unit of the DNDC will be visiting The Berkeley Institute and CedarBridge Academy to share information on the effects that drugs and alcohol have on the individual.

“Students will be informed that drugs are mind-altering substances that affect the brain and can impair judgment, motivation, decision-making and wellbeing.

“Students will learn that knowing the facts about drugs and alcohol is their best defence against any pressure from their peers to use.”

The spokeswoman added that the prevention week was also an opportunity to raise awareness of adolescent substance misuse and mental health issues, implement prevention training strategies and show the value of evidence-based prevention programming.

“The goal is a healthier community where the prevalence of drugs and alcohol is not problematic,” she said.

National Prevention Week is supported by the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The theme chosen this year was “A Celebration of Possibility”, to highlight the brighter future that drug prevention work can help to bring.