SUBSTANCE MISUSE POLICY
Arklow C.B.S.
SCHOOL POLICY
This school does not accept the possession of, or supply of, Banned or Prohibited Substances or of Drug Paraphernalia either in the school, or on school trips or during any school-related activity by any student of the school.
A legitimate exception is the use of a prescribed drug in accordance with medical advice and prescription. Parents hereby agree to inform the school in writing when their son is taking prescribed medication.
MISSION STATEMENT
As a school, we endeavour to provide an atmosphere which will forge positive relationships and connections, building confidence, resilience and independence in our students while challenging all our students to develop their talents and abilities to their highest potential.
We aim to nurture our students in a supportive and caring community to develop into well-rounded individuals that are prepared for life.
Arklow CBS is a Voluntary Catholic Secondary school under the Trusteeship of the Edmund Rice School Trust. We are guided by the Edmund Rice School Charter:
- Nurturing Faith, Christian Spirituality and Gospel-based Values
- Promoting Partnership in the School Community
- Excelling in Teaching and Learning
- Creating a Caring School Community
- Inspiring Transformational Leadership
AIMS & OBJECTIVES
The aims and objectives of this school policy are:
- To enable students to make healthy and informed choices; and
- To provide a clear framework for all staff for dealing with incidents of substance abuse in the school.
CURRICULUM OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the school curriculum with regard to substance abuse are:
- To provide opportunities for students to acquire knowledge & understanding about the dangers of drug misuse & the effects of solvents, alcohol, tobacco & other drugs on body functions;
- To understand the importance of feeling positive about oneself and others, and to be able to express feelings confidently;
- To develop decision-making skills & know about factors, which influence the process of making decisions, including choosing between alternatives and considering long & short-term consequences of decisions for oneself & others;
- To help students appreciate ways in which they can control aspects of their own behaviour and resist peer pressure; and
- To make students aware of the law relating to the use of drugs.
PROCEDURAL OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the school with regard to the procedure to be followed regarding substance abuse are:
- To set out clear procedures to be followed by staff who suspect that substance misuse is taking place or that Banned or Prohibited Substances are being brought onto the school premises;
- To provide an agreed framework for liaison with outside agencies including the Gardai and media;
- To set out a clear statement of the disciplinary measures which will be applied to drugs-related incidents;
- To set out the support & counselling which will be part of the response to drugs-related offences in the school;
- To ensure that all members of the school community understand the very serious view which the school takes of all incidents of possession, use or supply of Banned or Prohibited Substances; and
- To ensure that all staff involved in specific drugs education have an adequate level of training.
SCHOOL RESPONSE TO INCIDENTS OF SUBSTANCE MISUSE
- In any case where it is apparent that an abuse incident has arisen or there is an immediate danger to students or the school community, the school reserves the right (acting through the Principal) to temporarily suspend or remove any student(s) involved from the school premises and/or from any specific school activities, or take whatever other action is deemed appropriate and necessary to remove the said danger, pending a further and complete investigation as described below.
- The school will take all appropriate & necessary steps fully to investigate and assess any abuse incident including the various steps set out herein, and will take as much time as may be deemed necessary & appropriate to the completion of any such investigation.
- The school will take immediate possession of any Banned or Prohibited Substances or any Drug Paraphernalia found in connection with the incident(s) & will retain same pending the completion of this investigation.
- A written record will be made and retained of the abuse incident.
- Where the suspicion of substance abuse or possession of Banned or Prohibited Substances in the school or the school grounds or on a school-related activity has been confirmed, the Principal or designated teacher and/or the teacher responsible for the drugs programme must be informed immediately.
- In the case of any reasonable suspicion of an abuse incident, parents/ guardians will be informed in a confidential manner.
- Where a student has been found in the process of abusing Banned or Prohibited Substances in school, the school grounds or on any school-related activity, the student may be suspended until such time as it is agreed to allow them to return to school with a minimum of a one-day suspension.
- The case may be referred to the Board of Management.
- Support services such as Health Board specialists or other agencies may be contacted for advice & assistance.
- The school will at its discretion contact the Juvenile Liaison officer of the Gardai or other appropriate Officer.
- The school has a right to insist that a student that attends formal counselling for substance abuse and may also demand a medical certificate certifying that the student has been medically assessed, drug free and fit to return to school, in terms of health and safety.
- The Board of Management, as the circumstances of the matter may merit, may implement disciplinary actions or sanctions including, but not limited to, any of the following:
- An oral warning;
- A written warning;
- A three-day suspension;
- A suspension of more than three days;
- Other disciplinary action short of expulsion;
- Expulsion sanctions up to & including expulsion, where appropriate. Where expulsion arises the Board arises, the Board of Management will notify the Education Welfare Officer and will otherwise comply with the provisions of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 subject to “and without prejudice to the right of a board of management to take such other reasonable measures as it considers appropriate to ensure that good order and discipline are maintained in the school and the safety of students is secured” in accordance with the law and the provisions of section 24(5) of the said Act. Such an expulsion is subject to appeal under the provisions of sections 28 & 29 of the Education Act 1998.
ROLE OF THE PRINCIPAL
- The Principal or his delegate is in the first instance the primary person responsible for dealing with all abuse incidents arising in the school.
- All other staff, students & parents (where the circumstances should arise) are obligated to report particulars of any abuse incident, or any reasonable suspicions of the possible occurrence of an abuse incident(s), to the Principal or his delegate.
- Ordinarily the Principal, or his delegate or in his absence the Deputy Principal, shall make all relevant decisions with reference to investigating the abuse incident, communicating with parents & liaising with or reporting (as appropriate) to any other relevant agencies, the Board of Management, & ultimately (subject to the discretion of the Board of Management), the disclosure of information concerning the abuse incident investigation to relevant third parties.
ROLE OF TEACHERS OR OTHER SCHOOL STAFF MEMBERS
Any teacher, staff member or other employee of the school who encounters an abuse incident or even suspicions of an abuse incident may be obliged to report same promptly to the Principal, or his designate or the Deputy Principal.
ROLE OF PARENTS
The school will seek to involve parent(s), wherever possible & offer support to them in relation to the incident(s), in the best interests of the student(s) concerned, but without prejudice to the school’s separate & independent obligation to investigate & manage the abuse incident(s) themselves as outlined above.
The school will also keep the student(s) concerned appropriately informed about what is happening & why, & again this will be without prejudice to its separate & independent obligation to investigate & manage the abuse incident(s).
CONFIDENTIALITY
The school, the Principal & all persons concerned with the incident(s) shall respect the principle of confidentiality & shall as far as possible, jointly & individually to try & observe confidentiality.
MEDIA
Only the Principal or a nominated spokesperson on behalf of the school will handle all media enquiries, & the response to same.
APPENDIX 1 – DEFINITIONS
i. The school
When referred to as a location, this is defined as anywhere within the precincts of the school, its buildings, grounds & the public property in the immediate vicinity of the school.
- School-related activity
This is defined as tours, functions, outings or activities where there is an obvious link with the school, irrespective of time or location.
- Banned or Prohibited Substances
This includes all substances covered under the Misuse of Drugs Acts 1977, 1984 & 2015, the Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Act 2010 and any regulations made under any of same; improperly or unprescribed medication; any volatile substance used contrary to or in variance with the law of the land; and/or any alcohols, tobaccos and/or vapes of any kind.
- An abuse incident
An abuse incident is one which occurs in the school, or during school functions or outings, or any incident which may be deemed damaging to the health or welfare of the student concerned, or to other student(s), or to the policy or reputation of the school.
The following are possible examples of abuse incidents:-
- Any possession, use or supply of Banned or Prohibited Substances by a student at school, in the school grounds or on any school-related activity
- Intoxication
- Suspicion of drug use, possession or dealing
- Unusual behaviour
- Emergencies when the person may be unconscious
- Disclosure by another person
- Person seeking help relating to the possession, use or supply of any Banned or Prohibited Substances by any person from member of staff
- School grounds being used for drug activity, including smoking or vaping
- Drug Paraphernalia found on school property
The school reserves the right to determine, in the circumstances arising, whether or not the specific incident(s) is an abuse incident to be dealt with under the terms of this policy.
MONITORING, REVIEW & EVALUATION
Monitoring, review & evaluation of this policy & all related work & procedures will take place on an ongoing basis in order to keep the school up to date with the current best practice in this area.
Ratified by the Board of Management on _7th February 2024.