Health, Public Health & Safety
Drugs & Alcohol Awareness and Prevention
Prevention, early identification and referral for substance misuse in communities and workplaces.
View prospectus
Programme rationale
Prevention, early identification and referral for substance misuse in communities and workplaces. The programme is structured for learners who need practical, assessable capability they can connect to real responsibilities while continuing work or other commitments.
Programme at a glance
Around 12 weeks of guided study, typically two sessions a week plus independent work, so you can keep working while you study.
| Unit | Study block | Module |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Weeks 1–2 | Common substances and their effects |
| 2 | Weeks 3–4 | Risk factors and community drivers |
| 3 | Weeks 5–6 | Prevention and awareness programming |
| 4 | Weeks 7–8 | Brief screening and referral |
| 5 | Weeks 9–12 | Workplace policy and stigma reduction |
Target audience & entry requirements
Target audience
- • Health workers, facility teams, safety focal persons and community health volunteers.
- • Programme staff whose work includes prevention, preparedness, surveillance, safety or community engagement.
- • Learners seeking structured professional development in public-health and safety practice.
Entry requirements
- • Basic literacy and secondary-level education, or relevant practical work experience.
- • Access to a phone, tablet or computer for online and blended study.
- • Commitment to attend sessions and submit assignments on time.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the programme, learners should be able to:
- Deliver a community prevention session
- Identify risk and refer appropriately
- Support a workplace substance policy
Detailed modules
Each module below follows this programme’s published syllabus and contributes to the final practical work.
- 1
Common substances and their effects
Weeks 1–2Study common substances and their effects in the context of health, Public Health & Safety, connecting essential concepts with practical decisions and professional documentation.
What you cover
- Essential concepts and terminology within common substances and their effects
- Methods, tools and professional standards used in practice
- Application through a relevant case, task or workplace scenario
Assessed work: Complete a guided case task applying common substances and their effects to a realistic setting.
- 2
Risk factors and community drivers
Weeks 3–4Apply risk factors and community drivers through systematic risk identification, proportionate controls, safe documentation and escalation.
What you cover
- Hazards, exposure and professional responsibilities within risk factors and community drivers
- Prevention, control and response measures
- Inspection, recording, referral and improvement actions
Assessed work: Complete a scenario-based risk, control or referral exercise for risk factors and community drivers.
- 3
Prevention and awareness programming
Weeks 5–6Study prevention and awareness programming in the context of health, Public Health & Safety, connecting essential concepts with practical decisions and professional documentation.
What you cover
- Essential concepts and terminology within prevention and awareness programming
- Methods, tools and professional standards used in practice
- Application through a relevant case, task or workplace scenario
Assessed work: Complete a guided case task applying prevention and awareness programming to a realistic setting.
- 4
Brief screening and referral
Weeks 7–8Study brief screening and referral in the context of health, Public Health & Safety, connecting essential concepts with practical decisions and professional documentation.
What you cover
- Essential concepts and terminology within brief screening and referral
- Methods, tools and professional standards used in practice
- Application through a relevant case, task or workplace scenario
Assessed work: Complete a guided case task applying brief screening and referral to a realistic setting.
- 5
Workplace policy and stigma reduction
Weeks 9–12Develop practical capability in workplace policy and stigma reduction, linking roles, resources, decisions, accountability and review.
What you cover
- Roles, responsibilities and decision points in workplace policy and stigma reduction
- Planning tools, coordination arrangements and documentation
- Implementation monitoring, accountability and improvement
Assessed work: Draft a usable plan, workflow or decision brief for workplace policy and stigma reduction.
Practical project / portfolio
Design and deliver a community awareness session.
Teaching & learning approach
- Tutor-led explanation and demonstration focused on the published module topics.
- Guided practice using cases, scenarios, templates or production tasks relevant to the programme.
- Individual and group feedback that helps learners improve work before final submission.
- Flexible online, face-to-face or blended participation, with evening and weekend scheduling where available.
Assessment & completion
- • Short applied tasks linked to the published modules.
- • Practical component: Design and deliver a community awareness session.
- • A final assessment or portfolio review covering the full syllabus.
- • Participation in guided sessions, discussions and group exercises.
Learner support
- • Session handouts, checklists and templates you keep after the course.
- • Case material and worked examples based on community and field practice.
- • Tutor guidance by WhatsApp between sessions.
How this programme is delivered
Online
Guided sessions and assignments you can follow from anywhere with a connection.
Face-to-face
Classroom sessions at our Mile 91 learning centre, including weekend and evening options.
Blended
A mix of online study with periodic in-person workshops, field exercises and simulations.
Career & professional pathways
This programme supports professional development; it does not guarantee employment, promotion or entry to a regulated occupation.
- Strengthen performance in community health, facility support, safety, preparedness or programme-assistant roles.
- Use the practical project as evidence of applied professional development in your current workplace.
- Progress to related SLIHSD public-health, safety or emergency-management study where available.
Fees & enrolment
- • Indicative programme fee: SLE 2,500.
- • One-off indicative registration fee: SLE 100.
- • Final fees, start date, delivery arrangement and any instalment option are confirmed in writing before commitment.
- • Submitting an application does not require payment and does not guarantee admission.
Regulatory & recognition notice
SLIHSD is a developing professional learning institution. Accreditation and formal recognition are subject to applicable regulatory approvals. Completion records an SLIHSD professional short course and is not presented as an accredited academic award.
Learners who complete all assessments receive an SLIHSD professional certificate of completion. This records completion of an SLIHSD short course and is not presented as an accredited academic award.
Ready to start Drugs & Alcohol Awareness and Prevention?
Applications for the Founding Student Intake 2026 are open. Register your interest and we will guide you to the right programme.