Drug and Alcohol Awareness (Substance Misuse)

Course Overview

Drug and alcohol misuse does not stay outside the workplace door. It affects performance, safety, decision-making, and relationships in every sector, from offices and construction sites to care homes and supported living services. And in health and social care settings, it is not just a workforce issue. It is frequently a characteristic of the people being supported.

The complexity that care workers encounter is not always straightforward substance misuse. It is often a dual diagnosis: the intersection of substance misuse and mental health conditions that makes accurate recognition, appropriate response, and effective signposting significantly more difficult. A person whose presentation shifts between withdrawal, anxiety, psychosis, and intoxication is not easy to read, and care workers who have never been given a framework for understanding that overlap are working without the tools they need.

This course addresses drug and alcohol awareness across two distinct but connected dimensions. The first is the workplace: understanding how substance misuse affects colleagues and work environments, what the legal and policy framework requires, and how to respond to concerns professionally, consistently, and lawfully. The second is the person being supported: understanding how substance misuse presents in care settings, what dual diagnosis means in practice, and how to signpost individuals to the right services without overstepping the care worker’s role or leaving someone without support because they fall between two systems.

This course is suitable for any organisation where drug and alcohol misuse is a reality, which covers virtually every sector. The framing throughout reflects the specific complexity of health and social care settings while remaining relevant to managers, HR teams, safety representatives, and frontline staff in any industry.

The course reflects current employer responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, and ACAS guidance on drug and alcohol policies in the workplace. It also reflects guidance from NHS England on dual diagnosis and signposting resources, including FRANK and Change Grow Live.

Course Details

  • Duration: Full day, adaptable to requirements
  • Delivery: In-person at your venue, or live online via Zoom or Microsoft Teams
  • Certificate: CPD-accredited certificate of achievement in Drug and Alcohol Awareness
  • Refresher: Every 1 to 3 years, or sooner following changes to legislation, organisational policy, or workplace risk
  • Group size: Flexible for team training

Who This Course Is For

This course is right for anyone working in an environment where drug and alcohol misuse is a potential risk, whether among colleagues, service users, or both, including:

  • Care assistants, support workers, and health and social care staff supporting individuals where substance misuse is a factor
  • Managers and supervisors responsible for responding to workplace substance misuse concerns
  • HR and people management teams with responsibility for drug and alcohol policies
  • Senior carers and team leaders in residential, nursing, and domiciliary care settings
  • Safety representatives and operational staff in higher-risk environments
  • Customer-facing and community-facing staff across any sector

Why This Training Matters

Drug and alcohol misuse is one of the most significant and least consistently managed risks in the workplace. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 places a clear duty on employers to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of their employees and to manage risks that could affect others. An employee who is under the influence of alcohol or substances at work is a risk to themselves, to colleagues, and in care settings, to the people they support. Employers who do not have a clear policy and a trained workforce are exposed both legally and operationally.

The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 also creates specific obligations for organisations, particularly in care settings where controlled drugs may be present. Understanding what the law permits, what it prohibits, and where organisational responsibility lies is not optional for managers and care providers.

But legislation is only one dimension of why this training matters. The more complex challenge, particularly in health and social care, is dual diagnosis. NHS England’s guidance on dual diagnosis recognises that substance misuse and mental health conditions frequently co-exist, and that the interaction between the two creates a presentation that is difficult to read and even harder to support effectively. A person who is experiencing psychosis and is also misusing substances may be turned away by mental health services because of the substance use, and by drug and alcohol services because of the mental health presentation. They fall between two systems. The care worker supporting them is left without a clear pathway and without the training to navigate it.

Understanding the overlap, knowing what dual diagnosis looks like in practice, and knowing where to signpost without abandoning the person to a system that may not catch them are skills this course builds directly. They are also skills that CQC inspectors look for in services supporting individuals with complex needs, where the quality of the care team’s response to substance misuse and co-occurring conditions is a direct indicator of safe and effective care.

What You Will Learn

By the end of the session, learners will be able to:

  • Explain what drug and alcohol misuse is, including the range of substances involved and their effects on health and behaviour
  • Recognise signs and symptoms of substance misuse in both colleagues and individuals being supported
  • Understand what dual diagnosis means, how substance misuse and mental health conditions overlap, and why this complicates recognition and response
  • Respond to concerns about substance misuse professionally, consistently, and in line with legal and organisational responsibilities
  • Apply workplace drug and alcohol policies correctly, including understanding the legal framework for employers under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
  • Support individuals with substance misuse needs appropriately and within the care worker’s role, without enabling risk or abandoning the person
  • Signpost individuals to appropriate services, including FRANK, Change Grow Live, and local drug and alcohol and mental health services
  • Understand when and how to escalate concerns within the organisation and to external agencies
  • Recognise the limits of their role and know when specialist intervention is needed

Course Content

Content is adapted to your sector and setting, but typically covers:

  • What substance misuse is: definitions, types of substances, and the spectrum from use to dependency
  • Effects of drugs and alcohol on health, behaviour, decision-making, and workplace performance
  • Recognising signs and symptoms: what to look for in colleagues and in individuals being supported
  • Dual diagnosis: the overlap between substance misuse and mental health conditions, why people fall between services, and what care workers need to understand about this
  • The legal framework: Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, and employer responsibilities
  • Workplace drug and alcohol policies: what they must cover, how to apply them, and what managers are legally permitted to do
  • Supporting individuals in care settings: the care worker’s role, appropriate boundaries, and avoiding enabling while maintaining a supportive relationship
  • Signposting: FRANK, Change Grow Live, local drug and alcohol services, dual diagnosis pathways, and how to make a referral or recommendation
  • Managing concerns and difficult conversations: how to raise a concern, how to respond when someone discloses, and how to document appropriately
  • Escalation: when to involve safeguarding, management, or external agencies

How the Course Is Delivered

Sessions are practical, discussion-based, and grounded in the real situations learners face. The aim is not just awareness of what substances are but a clear, confident framework for responding when substance misuse becomes a concern in the workplace or in a care setting.

Delivery includes:

  • Scenario-based discussion covering workplace concerns, dual diagnosis presentations, and signposting decisions
  • Honest exploration of the tension between supporting someone and managing the risk they present
  • Practical guidance on policies, legal responsibilities, and what managers and care workers are and are not permitted to do
  • Discussion of dual diagnosis and the specific challenges it creates for care workers in health and social care settings
  • Time for questions, because this topic consistently generates them once people start applying it to real situations

Certification and Validity

On completion, learners receive a CPD-accredited certificate of achievement in Drug and Alcohol Awareness.

A refresher is recommended every 1 to 3 years, or sooner following changes to legislation, organisational policy, or the risk profile of the workplace. For care providers, an earlier refresher is advisable following any significant incident involving substance misuse or dual diagnosis, or where CQC inspection feedback identifies gaps in staff knowledge or response.

In-House and Bespoke Training

We adapt delivery to your sector, your organisation, and the specific substance misuse challenges your team encounters.

We can build content around:

  • Your internal drug and alcohol policy and how staff should apply it in practice
  • Health and social care settings where dual diagnosis is prevalent, and the complexity of presentation is high
  • The specific substances most relevant to your workforce or service user group
  • Management-level sessions focused on legal responsibilities, policy application, and handling formal concerns
  • Combined delivery with Mental Health Awareness, Safeguarding Adults, or Managing Difficult Conversations for a joined-up programme

Course Location and Service Areas

We deliver in-house training at your workplace or chosen venue across Manchester, Greater Manchester, and the wider North West. We also deliver nationally, including North England, South England, London, and Surrey.

For teams in multiple locations or with remote workers, this course is available live online via Zoom or Microsoft Teams, with no drop in quality or interaction.

All sessions are led by experienced Prima Cura Training instructors. Every trainer holds an Enhanced DBS certificate.

FAQs

What is dual diagnosis, and why does it matter in care settings?

Dual diagnosis refers to the co-occurrence of substance misuse and a mental health condition in the same individual. It matters in care settings because the two conditions interact in ways that make each harder to recognise and respond to. A person experiencing both a mental health crisis and substance misuse may be turned away by mental health services because of the substance use, and by drug and alcohol services because of the mental health presentation. Care workers who do not understand this dynamic are poorly equipped to support individuals effectively or to navigate the referral landscape on their behalf. This course covers dual diagnosis directly, including what it looks like in practice and how to respond and signpost appropriately.

Does this course cover signposting to support services?

Yes. The course covers practical signposting to FRANK, Change Grow Live, local drug and alcohol services, and dual diagnosis pathways. Learners leave understanding not just that signposting matters but how to do it, including how to make a recommendation or referral in a way that is supportive and appropriately boundaried.

Does this course include drug testing procedures?

No. The course focuses on awareness, recognition, legal responsibilities, and appropriate response rather than testing procedures. Drug and alcohol testing in the workplace is a separate area requiring specific legal and HR advice and must be underpinned by a clear organisational policy. This course covers what the policy framework should include, but does not train learners to carry out testing.

Is this course suitable for managers as well as frontline staff?

Yes, and the content is relevant at every level. Frontline staff need to recognise warning signs and know how to raise concerns. Managers need to understand their legal responsibilities, how to apply the drug and alcohol policy consistently, and how to handle concerns and disclosures professionally and lawfully. The course is structured to be relevant to both groups, and we can adjust the emphasis depending on the composition of your team.

How should care workers respond when they suspect a service user is misusing substances?

The response depends on the individual’s care plan, the nature of the concern, and the organisation’s policies and procedures. This course gives care workers a clear framework: what to observe and document, how to raise the concern internally, when safeguarding applies, and how to signpost the individual to appropriate support services. It also covers the specific complexity of dual diagnosis, where substance misuse and mental health issues are intertwined, and the right response is not always obvious.

Additional Reading

We have covered the use of Naloxone in one of our blogs. You may find it helpful to read.

Related Courses

Book or Enquire

To book Drug and Alcohol Awareness Training or request a quote for your team, use the enquiry form on this page or contact us directly.

Our Commitment to Quality and Compliance

At Prima Cura Training, all courses reflect current UK guidance and best practice.

All trainers are experienced professionals with relevant qualifications and ongoing CPD. Because many of the organisations we support work with vulnerable individuals, all trainers hold Enhanced DBS checks.

This course is reviewed against updates from the Health and Safety Executive, NHS England, ACAS, and current UK legislation, including the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, and the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

You can read more on our Quality Assurance and Compliance page.

Reviewed by Stephanie Austin, Owner and Lead Trainer, Prima Cura Training 25+ years in health and social care | 15+ years as a trainer | Last reviewed: April 2026 | Next review: April 2027

This page is for general guidance only and reflects current UK legislation and best practice at the date of review. It does not constitute legal, clinical, or medical advice. Drug and Alcohol Awareness Training is an awareness-level course and does not replace specialist substance misuse intervention, clinical assessment, or dual diagnosis treatment, which must be carried out by appropriately qualified professionals. Organisations remain responsible for ensuring their drug and alcohol policies comply with current employment law and health and safety legislation. Where substance misuse raises safeguarding concerns, providers must follow their safeguarding procedures and reporting obligations. Individuals requiring support with substance misuse or dual diagnosis should be referred to their GP, local drug and alcohol service, or an appropriate specialist provider.

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