Drug Education Policy

(This policy has been developed from the DE&T's "Turning the Tide - The Strategy for Schools" Guidelines.)

Introduction

A drug can be defined as; "any substance or mixture of substances that affects the brain or body other than those required for normal health" (World Health Organisation). 

This definition would include licit drugs such as alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, tranquillisers and analgesics as well as the illicit drugs such as cannabis, heroin, cocaine, amphetamines and anabolic steroids.

MGSC is aware that illicit drug use and licit drug abuse is common in our society and that it is unrealistic to assume that no College students will have used drugs or will use drugs in the future. If students use drugs harmful consequences might then ensue for their health and academic progress, the welfare of other students and the College's standing in the community.

 The College will continue the harm minimisation approach as recommended by the National Drug Strategic Plan 1993-7 and the Premier's Drug Advisory Council Report 1996. Therefore the College accepts the need to make relevant information on drugs available to students through the curriculum with the aim of preventing or minimizing harm as a result of uninformed experimentation with drugs while recognizing that drug misuse may be symptomatic of other welfare issues.

The College does not condone drug use. The College will continue to take firm measures against individuals whose behaviour poses a danger to other students and staff.

Beliefs

 ·        The promotion of the physical, social and emotional wellbeing of each child will help to reduce substance misuse.

 ·        Drug education is a shared responsibility between home, school and the community. 

 ·        The College acknowledges that many people use drugs or are affected by the drug use of others and that non-drug users also need to be supported.

 ·        A drug education program requires a range of approaches in both the curriculum and welfare areas to prevent and reduce drug-related harm.

 ·        A drug education program based on harm minimisation provides a supportive environment in which to develop self esteem and decision making capacities that equip students to deal with drug-related issues in a variety of contexts.

 ·        A non judgmental approach should be adopted towards drug use by students, and that a free and open dialogue should be developed with them regarding this practice. 

 ·        A student's readiness to acknowledge and take responsibility for her conduct by participating in future management coping strategies will be an important factor in determining any disciplinary measure.

Guidelines 

Guidelines for the policy in curriculum and welfare areas are consistent with the Department of Education's Reference Guide. 

Consultation 

1. Parents, staff, students and relevant community members will be consulted in the development and regular review of this policy. A drug education core group will be responsible for coordination and implementation.

 Information Flows

 2. Visitors, staff, parents and students will be informed about the policy through:

·        new parents and students induction program to the school

·        newsletters, notice board displays and publications of policy, particularly in the student diary.

·        ongoing meetings, working parties and information sessions

·        classroom activities and student council consultation

Curriculum

3. A variety of teaching and learning strategies will support the curriculum at each level in order to:

 ·        increase student knowledge of relevant and accurate facts about drugs

 ·       develop personal, social and cognitive skills that equip students to deal with drug-related issues in a variety of contexts

 ·        increase student understanding of the impact of drugs on society

 ·        increase student understanding of the continuum of risk associated with drug use. This continuum is determined by the drugs used, the context in which they are used and the people involved.

 ·       increase student knowledge and skills that will equip them to contribute to the public debate about drug-related issues.

(See Appendix 1 Curriculum Summary)

Professional Development

4. Staff will be encouraged and supported by the professional development coordinator to    participate in professional development to assist them to:

 ·        offer relevant and supportive drug education classroom programs and development support to students within the classroom.

 ·        better identify students ‘at risk’ and be able to access suitable advice and support for the student, staff and the family.

Resourcing

5. Drug-related curriculum and welfare programs will be supported by funding and where possible,   time release to enable:

 ·         teacher professional development to occur

 ·        suitable teaching resources to be purchased

 ·        appropriate welfare professionals to be accessed where specialised support is required.

(See Appendix 2 Resources)

Welfare       

6. A comprehensive welfare support structure provides the following:

Communication

 ·        Policy and procedures are clearly and regularly communicated to staff, parents and students.

Roles

 ·        Identifies the role of, members of the Principal team, Student Welfare Coordinator and teachers in identifying and supporting students at risk. (See Appendix 3 Roles and responsibilities)

 ·        Identifies school programs which support students and parents outside the classroom, for example, peer support, VCE Supportive Friends, bullying and social skills programs, positive parenting program.

(See Appendix 4 Supporting programs)

Management 

COLLEGE DRUG EDUCATION POLICY

 ·        Identifies yard duty and trespass procedures which reduce drug-related risk to students.

(See Appendix 5 Yard duty)

 ·        Identifies procedure to be followed for first aid and administration of medicines.

(See Appendix 6 First aid and medications attached)

 ·        Sets out the steps to be taken in the case of student misuse of a drug.

(See Appendix 7 Managing drug-related incidents)

Protocols 

 ·        Sets out the procedures and protocols when police are involved in a drug- related issue

(See Appendix 8 Police protocol)

 ·        Sets out the procedures and protocols members of outside support agencies and services are involved in a drug-related issue

(See Appendix 9 Agency protocol)

 ·        Sets out procedures to be taken in handling the media in the event of a drug-related issue.

(See Appendix 10 Media protocol)

Review 

 ·        This policy and the procedural documentation related to it will be reviewed every three years. The next review should be in 2007.

Links

Appendix 1

Appendix 2

Appendix 3

Appendix 4

Appendix 5

Appendix 6

Appendix 7

Appendix 8

Appendix 9

Appendix 10