Drug Education Policy

Transcription

1 Drug Education Policy Rationale Thomas Carr College believes that all student have the right to feel safe and supported in their school community. Issues such as alcohol and other drug use and misuse impact on the College and the community and confront most communities at some time in varied ways. Thomas Carr College is aware of the impact of harmful drugs on students and their families and accept that we, together with parents, governments and the wider community, have a role to play in reducing the harm that can arise from drug use. The College also acknowledges responsibility for providing students with the skills and knowledge to make informed decisions about drug use or non-drug use. Our policy encompasses health promotion initiatives, age appropriate drug education programs based on a harm minimisation approach and clear procedures for responding to drug related issues in accordance with appropriate Catholic Education Commission of Victoria (CECV) and statutory guidelines and policies. Definitions School drug education: a term to encompass all policies, practices, programs and initiatives/events in schools connected with the prevention and reduction of drug-related harm Harm minimisation: refers to policies and programs aimed at reducing drug related harm, which includes the promotion of abstinence, prevention of anticipated harm and reduction of actual harm Drug: any substance, with the exception of food and water, which, when taken into the body, alters its function physically and psychologically. This includes all legal and illegal substances. Illicit drug: a drug of which the production, sale, possession or use is prohibited. An alternative term is illegal drug. Unsanctioned drug: a drug for which use is restricted by law, school authorities and/or school policies/guidelines. The term includes illicit, social and prescription drugs. Drug related incident: an occasion involving alcohol, tobacco and/or other illicit or unsanctioned drug use and/or the possession of a drug or drug-related equipment (except for legal medical use). Policy Guidelines The College aims to promote a school where all members of the College community work together to provide students with integrated and positive experiences and structures that promote and protect their health. This includes the provision of information about appropriate health services and the involvement of the family and the wider community in efforts to promote health. It further includes the provision of resilience programs for students including conflict resolution, positive relationships, healthy lifestyles, risk taking behaviours and decision making skills. We aim to incorporate a harm minimisation approach to drug education into the existing curriculum with a sequential program for students from Year 7 to 12. Our drug education utilises a whole school approach to health promotion, prevention and early intervention to student wellbeing and engagement, based on the principles of harm minimisation. It aims to promote resilience, and build on knowledge, skills and behaviours to enable young people to make responsible, healthy and safe choices. The College prohibits possession, use, distribution and selling of illicit drugs and unsanctioned licit drugs on school premises or at any function or activity organised by the school. We will provide appropriate assistance, support and referral for students with drug related difficulties. Where possible and/or necessary, the College will utilise partnerships with parents/caregivers and police. Staff will be provided with appropriate information so that they can respond to drug use by students. The response will be timely, well managed and ensure that student wellbeing is paramount. The College will provide staff and parents with appropriate education on drug related issues.

2 As a College, we will ensure that all student wellbeing and discipline procedures relating to drug use are underpinned by the principles of restorative justice, compassion, consistency and, whenever possible, confidentiality. We will also ensure that strenuous efforts are made to maintain appropriate educational pathways for students involved in drug-related incidents. Procedures Title: Drug Related Incident Procedure Related Policies: First Aid Policy, Medication Policy, Critical Incident Management Policy Responsibility for implementation: Staff Policy status Reviewed Key Stakeholders: College staff and students Endorsement Body: College Executive Ratification Body: College Board Policy Author: Director of Student Services and College Nurse Date of Approval: 2015 Date of Scheduled Review: 2018 The content of this policy can be changed at the College Board s discretion at any time without notification.

3 Drug Related Incident Procedure The possession, use, distribution or selling of illicit drugs on College premises, at any function or activity organised by the College is prohibited. Tobacco, alcohol, inhalants, illegal and unsanctioned drugs are all prohibited on College grounds. Procedure Guidelines Teachers have a duty of care to pass on information to the Principal if they have knowledge about illicit drug use by students or members of a student s family irrespective of: o whether the use is confirmed, suspected or likely to occur on or outside school grounds o the drug used Under this duty of care, staff cannot promise unconditional confidentiality to students. The Principal will notify parents/guardians as soon as practicable. Teachers and Principals do not breach criminal law by failure to notify parents/guardians of the use of an illicit drug, but there are civil implications if they choose not to notify parents/guardians. A school desk and locker are the property of the College and can be searched if a teacher has reasonable grounds for believing that it contains unsanctioned or illicit drugs. The search can take place without notice and will be conducted by two Year Level Co-ordinators or College Executive members. A student s bag is considered his/her personal property. If there is serious concern about what is contained in a student s bag, the Year Level Co-ordinator can ask the student to empty his/her bag for inspection. If the student is not willing to disclose and there is no imminent danger that it will be used, a College Executive member will contact the parents and inform them that unless the student gives consent for a bag search, then the police will be notified. Until such time that a bag search is able to be conducted, the student should be kept under supervision away from others. If, however, there is reasonable suspicion of imminent danger to a student using an illicit drug that he/she is concealing, the Year Level Co-ordinator, in consultation with a College Executive member, should conduct an immediate search to prevent injury to the student before police are called. A College Executive member should immediately notify the parents of the action taken. Teachers and a Year Level Co-ordinator can instruct students to hand over items in their possession, such as cigarettes, illegal drugs and alcohol. In all cases where items are confiscated, the security of those items rests with the College Executive. As soon as is practicable, confiscated items should be given to the parents (eg cigarettes and alcohol) or to the police (eg illegal and unsanctioned drugs). A College Executive member must advise the local police when they have knowledge of an alleged criminal offence, including the possession, use and/or distribution of illicit drugs. This will enable a collaborative approach to ensure appropriate action is taken in response to drug related incidents, with the wellbeing of the young person being the priority. All internal procedures and actions undertaken must be documented, along with ongoing monitoring of the behaviour and progress of students involved Any student who is absent from school due to drug use or the resultant treatment, should be provided with a Student Management Plan (SMP) Student Absence Learning Plan as determined by teachers in consultation with parents/guardians and the College s appointed case manager Information about detoxification, methadone or alternate pharmacotherapies is a private matter and for confidentiality reasons, will only be shared between students and their parent/guardian, supporting community agency and College designated Student Wellbeing staff. This information may be provided, at the Principal s discretion and only with the student s consent, to staff who have direct responsibility for the student. It is recommended that the College consult with Catholic Education Melbourne for advice For the wellbeing of the student, the College reserves the right to discuss with parents the benefits of regular drug testing as a way of ensuring that the child remains drug free. Where a student has been suspended for a drug related incident, the College views favourably the student s consent to undertake a drug test to demonstrate a negative result. An ongoing support structure of counselling by an appropriate professional will be established for any student identified with a drug related issue. This will be the responsibility of the Director of Student Services. Drug Related Incident Response Immediate response focus on the safety and welfare of those directly and indirectly involved gather any facts and/or relevant information make a first aid assessment (if necessary, seek medical support) seek assistance as soon as possible from the Director of Student Services, College Nurse and/or Head of School safely collect any suspected drugs and drug paraphernalia (where appropriate, refer to Appendix 2 the College s First Aid Policy, Syringe Disposal and Needle Stick Injury Procedure) inform the College s administration office isolate the situation from other students, if possible

4 Subsequent response when safe to do so inform parents/guardians of student/s involved in incident contact the police, if required notify health, community and welfare services, if appropriate establish a case management team to: o gather and verify information o allocate tasks and roles o document information o develop a communication strategy o consider interventions o consider sanctions in line with student engagement policies o monitor, evaluate and reflect

5 Drug Related Incident Plan Stay Calm Immediate First Aid Response Is student conscious? Yes - Contact Principal s office and request for YLC and HoS to escort student to Health Centre No - If student is unconscious, place them in left recovery position and call ambulance on 000 If Yes, College Nurse to conduct an assessment of the student, with the Principal or a College Executive member present Follow Up Action Assess the impact on other students. Were others involved? Are other students affected? Contact Work Safe (132360) in case of fumes, poisons or accidents at the College Case Management Team A case management team may comprise of: Deputy Principal Director of Student Services Student Wellbeing Team Leader College Nurse Head of School Year Level Co-ordinator Homeroom teacher Student Support Team Leader The case management team should: gather and verify information allocate tasks and roles document information develop a communication strategy consider interventions consider sanctions monitor, evaluate and reflect. The College should aim to have student/s returned to school and resume normal school activities as soon as possible. Careful facilitation is required. Avoid labelling a student or jumping to conclusions. Maintain confidentiality at all times. Share only the information that needs to be shared with those who need to know. Contact Inform the Principal or College Executive member The Principal or a College Executive member will contact the following: if believed to be an illegal substance, Victoria Police on 000 Catholic Education Melbourne on A parent/guardian when practical Short Term Response Investigate and document the facts Allow time for clarification Ensure the Principal has been informed. The Principal will take responsibility for informing relevant senior staff, including Wellbeing staff. Long Term Response Principal or a College Executive member, in consultation with Wellbeing staff and case management team, needs to implement short, medium and long term responses Debrief staff where appropriate Debrief those students who may have witnessed any incident Offer support to parents/carers Discuss what information, if any, needs to be shared with the whole College community Principal to prepare media response, if required Offer Employer Assistance Program (ACCESS) on Immediate Response Try to establish what substance/s has been consumed by student/s Attend to the safety and welfare needs of students Collect the facts: who, what, where and how? Try to find out: method of use, where, amount, what and when? Secure substance if possible Ensure safe handling of substance and/or disposal of sharps Monitor student/s continuously Isolate the situation from other students if possible Dealing with Groups Approach in a non threatening way Non punitive approach at this stage Avoid threats and ultimatums Stay with the group Don t argue Don t chase (particularly with inhalant use) Focus on most cooperative Involve group in problem solving action Consider safety for all including yourself