Schoolies Week can mean celebrating the end of school, spending time with friends and having more independence than usual. It can also bring unfamiliar situations where decisions need to be made quickly.

Drug awareness is one part of preparing for Schoolies. Not everyone will choose to drink alcohol or use drugs, but knowing the potential risks can help young people make informed decisions if those situations arise. Before you go, think about your boundaries, how you’ll stay connected with friends and where you can get help.

Make a Plan Before You Go

Start with what you’re comfortable with. You might decide not to drink or use drugs, or there may be situations you know you’d rather leave. Those choices are yours to make, and thinking about them before Schoolies can make it easier to act on them later.

Talk with your friends about how you’ll stay in contact. Charge your phone before heading out, agree on a meeting place if you become separated and know where you’re staying. Check the official Schoolies information for your destination too. Local medical services, welfare areas and transport arrangements can differ depending on where you’re celebrating.

For young people heading to the Gold Coast, Schoolies Week runs from 21 to 27 November 2026. The Queensland Government’s Safer Schoolies program provides information about services including the Schoolies Hub, Emergency Treatment Centre, Recharge Zones and volunteer walk-home help.

Know How You Want to Handle Social Pressure

Being around new people or in a larger group can make it harder to stick with a decision you’ve already made. Having a response ready can help.

You can say “no thanks”, change the subject or suggest doing something else. If someone keeps pushing after you’ve made your decision clear, move back towards friends you trust or leave the situation. You can look out for your friends without making decisions for them. Check in if someone disappears from the group or seems uncomfortable, and take notice when their behaviour changes suddenly.

Act Quickly if Someone Becomes Seriously Unwell

Alcohol and drugs can affect people differently. Risk can be harder to judge when it’s unclear what someone has taken, how strong it was or whether more than one substance was involved.

Call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance if you think someone may have overdosed or they become unresponsive, lose consciousness, have trouble breathing, experience a seizure or develop severe chest pain. If you’re seriously concerned and aren’t sure what is happening, call 000 rather than waiting for the situation to become clearer.

Make the call first, then stay with the person and follow the emergency operator’s instructions. If someone can’t be woken, don’t assume they’re simply sleeping.

Tell paramedics what you know about what the person may have taken. It’s okay if you don’t have every detail. The information you do have may help them respond.

Save Useful Contacts Before Schoolies

Putting important numbers in your phone beforehand means they’re easier to find when you’re stressed or helping a friend.

• Emergency: Call 000 for an ambulance when someone needs urgent medical help.
• healthdirect: Call 1800 022 222 for non-emergency health advice from a registered nurse.
• Queensland: Call 13 HEALTH on 13 43 25 84 for non-emergency health advice from a registered nurse.
• National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline: Call 1800 250 015 for free and confidential information about your own or someone else’s alcohol or drug use.

If you’re celebrating on the Gold Coast, Red Frogs can provide non-emergency help, including walk-home assistance, on 1300 557 123 during the event. For concerns that aren’t emergencies, a GP, pharmacist, health professional or trusted adult can help you work out what to do next.

Parents and Carers Can Make it Easier to Ask for Help

A conversation before Schoolies doesn’t need to become a lecture about everything that could go wrong. Start with what has already been planned and listen to what the young person expects the week to look like. Ask who they’re travelling with, how the group plans to stay connected and what they would do if a friend became unwell. You can talk about alcohol and drugs without assuming they will be used.

Make sure the young person knows they can contact you if plans change or they’re worried about something. If safety is the first priority in that conversation, it can be easier for them to make the call when they need advice. Parents and carers can save the relevant emergency and health contacts themselves. Knowing where a young person is staying and which official services operate nearby can be useful if they call for help.

Help is Still Available After Schoolies

Not every concern ends when Schoolies does. A young person might have questions about something that happened, be worried about their own alcohol or drug use or want advice about a friend.

They can speak with a trusted adult or health professional, or contact the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline for confidential information. Getting advice early can help them understand what options are available rather than trying to work everything out alone.

Drug Awareness Starts with Good Information

The Martin Youth Foundation believes every young person has the capacity to make sustained, positive change when given the right support.

We fund evidence-based treatment for youth alcohol and drug dependence. Its approach recognises young people as whole individuals who make decisions about their own lives and futures. Drug awareness during Schoolies should reflect that same respect.

Before Schoolies, save the contacts you may need and check the official information for your destination. Talk through your plans with friends or someone you trust. If something becomes concerning during the week, take it seriously and get the right help.