Substance Use Policy

St Patrick’s GNS, Hollypark

RN: 19259W

Policy ratified: September 2017

Signed: Margaret Keane

Chairperson, BOM

At the time of drawing up this policy, all details and the enclosed information are correct. It is possible that between now and the review date, changes may have to be made to the provisions, policies and procedures of the school. This may be due to external changes required by the Department of Education and Skills, the school patron or other agencies. Mandatory policies will be available on the school website and up to date information will be posted regularly.

Scope of Policy

This policy applies to students, teachers, auxiliary staff members, users of the school premises and visitors. It is applicable during school-time – including breaks and to all school related activities. It applies to the school building and grounds and to any area where a school related activity takes place, e.g. School Tour.

Aims of Policy

The aim of the substance use policy of St. Patrick G.N.S. is primary prevention. We aim to protect our pupils from the harmful effects of substance misuse and try to prevent them from using tobacco, alcohol, solvents and illegal drugs. We aim to develop in our pupils better self-esteem, through providing a positive school climate and atmosphere and through giving our pupils age appropriate information from educational programmes.

Relationship to School’s Mission, Vision And Aims

The characteristic spirit of this school has been developed and agreed with our partners in education. This substance use policy reflects the school policy by:

Drawing together teachers, parents and Board of Management members in formulating the policy

Rationale

Why is this policy necessary?

The world in which we live presents young people with many challenges, which affect their health and well-being. Exposure to alcohol, tobacco and drugs is part of this reality. Schools need to reflect upon how they might provide for the needs of their student cohort and respond appropriately to what are sometimes sensitive and emotive issues.

The Education Act 1998 provides that schools should promote the social and personal development of students and provide health education for them. The National Drugs Strategy ‘Building on Experience’ is now government policy and it requires schools to have a substance use policy in place. The recent report from the National Advisory Committee on Drugs entitled ‘Drug Use Prevention’ (November 2011) underlines the importance of schools developing substance use policies.

The European School Survey Project on Alcohol and other Drugs (ESPAD) Report highlighted the seriousness of the problem among sixteen year olds in Ireland, as compared to the other 29 ESPAD countries surveyed. Alcohol was identified as being the dominant drug misused in Ireland whilst the use of tobacco and other drugs was above the ESPAD average.

Alcohol consumption has increased per capita in Ireland in recent years while the other EU Member States have a shown either a decrease or a modest increase. Ireland now has the second highest per capita consumption of alcohol in the EU.

The Board of Management in St. Patrick G.N.S. Hollypark has a moral and legal obligation to ensure compliance with the criminal law.

Implementation Procedures

Copies of the policy will be given to:

Board of Management
All Staff Members
Parents Association
School Community on request

Monitoring and Review Procedures

A record will be kept in school of all substance use incidents. This policy will be reviewed annually by the Board of Management and a copy of this policy will be issued to all staff members.

Policy Content

Management of Alcohol, Tobacco and Drug Related Incidents

Pupils may be suspended or expelled if involved in any drug related incident.

The school’s shared understanding of a ‘drug related incident’ is:

Any unusual or unbecoming behaviour resulting from intake or use of alcohol, tobacco or illegal drugs
The sale or passing on of any illegal substance,
The possession of alcohol, tobacco or illegal drugs on school grounds or at school related activities
Disposal of drugs or related items (e.g. syringes) found on school property.

The reporting procedure for such incidents is:

Step 1: Witness to drug related incident informs teacher/staff member/Principal

Step 2: Principal inform parents/guardians

Step 3: Principal informs Chairperson of Board of Management

Step 4: Gardaí informed depending on seriousness of incident

Step 5: Area Health Board informed for disposal of items

Parents will be informed of an incident involving their own child and will be asked to accept responsibility, co-operate with the Board of Management and with the Gardai if necessary.

Parents will be involved in incidents involving another child only if deemed necessary by the Board of Management; if parents are aware that another child is involved in drug-related incidents under the scope of this policy they should inform the teacher or Principal.

The role of the Board of Management is to:

Ratify this policy
Implement this policy
Monitor and evaluate it
Make decisions involving critical incidents
To deal with the media in the event of a critical incident.

This policy puts the following procedures in place to deal with an incident requiring medical intervention:

‘Universal Precautions’ will be applied; e.g. wearing of proper protective gloves etc., washing and making safe an area after an incident; provision of a yellow bin to dispose of needles or other unsuitable appliances
Copies of all relevant phone numbers are set out in Appendix 1
An ambulance will be called where deemed necessary

The school has established an excellent rapport with the local Garda station and will invite representatives from the local Garda station to speak with senior pupils. Whether or not to inform the Gardai of minor incidents will be at the discretion of the Principal and the Chairperson of the Board of Management, but they will be involved in any serious substance abuse incidents.

At local level the following support agencies are available to which students involved in substance misuse might be referred:

N.A. (Narcotics Anonymous)
Child Care & Family Support Services
Drug Education Officer
Drug Helpline 1800 341 900
Juvenile Liaison Officer
Community Garda (Garda Nora Sutton, Kill of the Grange Garda Station Tel: 6665500)

In the event of media interest in relation to a ‘drug related incident’, the matter will be referred to the Board of Management and the Chairperson will issue a prepared statement to the media.

Management of Persons in the Workplace

Under The Influence of Drugs and/or Alcohol

The Board of Management shall ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that pupils and other persons in the workplace are not exposed to risks to their safety, health or welfare from persons under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. The term “in the workplace”, in the preceding sentence includes all school related activities taking place under the supervision of a teacher, both within and away from the school premises.

Every school employee shall, while at work, ensure that he or she is not under the influence of an intoxicant as required by Section 13 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005.

Should the Principal and/or Deputy Principal have reasonable grounds to believe that a staff member is unfit for work, due to being under the influence of an intoxicant, the Principal and/or Deputy Principal shall ask that person to remove him/herself from the workplace, in the interests of the safety, health and welfare of the employee and others. In the case of employees who are at work under the influence of an intoxicant, disciplinary procedures may be implemented.

Should the Principal and/or Deputy Principal have reasonable grounds to believe that an employee of any contractor is unfit for work, due to being under the influence of an intoxicant, the Principal and/or Deputy Principal shall ask the contractor to remove his/her employee from the workplace.

If a member of staff has reasonable grounds to believe any person, other than a staff member or employee of a contractor, is unfit to be on the premises, due to being under the influence of an intoxicant, the staff member shall report his/her belief promptly to the Principal and/or Deputy Principal, who shall ask that person to remove him/herself from the workplace.

If a member of staff has reasonable grounds to believe that a parent or adult collecting a pupil from school or presenting themselves on the premises for another reason is unfit to be on the premises or to take care of the said pupil, the Principal and/or Deputy Principal will be informed and the duty of care will apply to the pupil. All necessary steps will be taken to protect the pupil and safeguard their best interests.

In the event that a staff member or any other person, referred to above, refuses a reasonable request to remove him/herself from the premises, the Principal and/or Deputy Principal may call the Gardaí to remove the person in question.

The Board of Management acknowledges its responsibility in promoting the welfare at work of teachers. An Employee Assistance Service is available to teaching staff. In the event that substance abuse appears to be9 adversely affecting the performance and/or attendance pattern of any member of the teaching staff, the Board of Management may request such staff member to contact the Employee Assistance Service.

The Board of Management also acknowledges its responsibility in promoting the welfare at work of all other staff members. In the event that substance abuse appears to be adversely affecting the performance and/or attendance pattern of any member of the non teaching staff, the Board of Management may request such staff member to seek counselling or other professional intervention.

All incidents, relating to the presence of persons at school, under the influence of an intoxicant, shall be recorded and reported as soon as possible to the Principal.

The Principal/Board of Management shall consider all such reports and decide on the appropriate action to be taken in the circumstances of each particular case.

Appendix 1

Important Contact Numbers

Drugs Advisory and Treatment Centre

Trinity Court, 30/31 Pearse Street, Dublin 2

01 677 1122

Drugs/AIDS Services:

East Coast Area Health Board,

Centenary House, Dun Laoghaire

01 280 3335

Alcohol Services

East Coast Area Health Board:

Baggot Street Community Alcohol Treatment Unit

01 660 7838

Substance Misuse Prevention Programme

01 452 8017