DRUG education has become part of the syllabus for youngsters at a North-East college.

The programme has been incorporated into the personal, social, health education and citizenship classes at Thornaby Community College, and pupils will follow it through the whole of their five years.

From their arrival in year seven, children's knowledge is built on from what they already know, mainly about drugs as medicines. In following years, they learn about the risks associated with illegal drugs and the law.

Year ten students find out more about the appearance of drugs and issues such as peer group pressure, with more detailed discussions on all drug issues in year 11.

The prison service, police and other organisations will visit the school to give talks, and students are invited to visit prison cells and meet victims of crime.

Headteacher Bill Tevendale said: "As a parent myself, I am more than aware of the fact there is a problem bubbling away under the surface, and which is cutting across all social classes."

"It affects well-to-do families equally as much as families from poorer backgrounds."