Richmond School
Policy | Policy List | Drugs Policy
← Return to Listing - Previous Page - Following Page →
DRUGS POLICY (...)
MANAGING DRUG-RELATED INCIDENTS: Medical and Disciplinary Procedures
Incidents involving drugs may take the form of:
• emergencies
• intoxication
• discovery/observation
• disclosure
• suspicion/rumour.
This policy considers responses to these situations.
CLASS “A” DRUGS
Emergency situations. Where a person is suspected to be unconscious as a result of taking a class “A” drug, School Office should be contacted (0) where staff with first aid qualifications will be found, but the person should NOT be left alone. The person will be placed in the recovery position and an ambulance called. If any drugs are found on the student they must be sent to the hospital.
Parents will be informed and either brought to the School or sent to the treating hospital. An investigation should be started to try to ascertain what has been taken, if this is not already known, and how much. A report of the incident must be recorded as soon as possible by the Head of Year and sent to the Head, Deputy Head or Head of School.
Intoxication from class “A” drug use. The student should be removed to the “sick room” or any other quiet room but NOT left alone. School Office should be contacted (0) for a first aider and a senior member of staff. Parents will be informed and called to the School. The student may need hospital treatment. Any substance left on the student must be handed to the Police.
A report of the incident must be recorded as soon as possible by the Head of Year and sent to the Head, Deputy Head or Head of School.
Discovery/observation. When a person is discovered using, supplying or holding a suspected class “A” drug, the person should be approached and the substance confiscated (if no harm/danger would be caused to the student or the member of staff). A senior member of the staff will be called and the student(s) involved questioned. The Head or Deputy Head must be informed as soon as possible.
Parents will be informed and called to the School. The local Police will be contacted and any substance(s) found must be handed to the Police. A report of the incident must be recorded as soon as possible by the Head of Year and sent to the Head, Deputy Head or Head of School.
Disclosure. When a student discloses to a member of staff that he/she has been using class “A” drugs, or is concerned about someone else’s drug use, teachers should be non-judgemental and caring and show concern for the student’s welfare.
Students must be informed at this stage that staff cannot promise complete confidentiality. The Head must also be informed and the Police may be called.
Parents will be informed and called to the School. A report of the incident must be recorded as soon as possible by the Head of Year and sent to the Head, Deputy Head or Head of School.
Suspicion/rumour - Staff should not act hastily on the basis of rumours about class “A” drugs, or judge that a student is using drugs just on the basis of their behaviour alone. A lot of “odd” behaviour can be accounted for by adolescence.
However, if there is suspicion, evidence should be collected over a period of time, recorded on paper, and stored. The Head must be kept fully informed and he/she or the Deputy Head will make the decision to question the student(s) involved. The Head will also decide whether to call in the Police.
CLASS “B” DRUGS
•• FOR CLASS “B” DRUGS FOLLOW THE SAME PROCEDURES AS ABOVE ••
CLASS “C” DRUGS
Emergency situations - Where a person is unconscious as a result of a suspected class “C” drug incident, School Office must be contacted (0) where staff with first aid qualifications will be found, but the person should NOT be left alone. The person will be placed in the recovery position and an ambulance called. If the drugs taken were prescription drugs the bottle should be sent to the hospital with the student.
Parents will be informed and either brought to the School or sent to the treating hospital. An investigation should be started to try to ascertain what has been taken (if it is not a prescribed drug) and how much. A report of the incident must be recorded as soon as possible by the Head of Year and sent to the Head, Deputy Head or Head of School.
Intoxication from class “C” drug use. The student should be removed to the “sick room” or any other quiet room but NOT left alone. School Office must be contacted (0) for a first aider, and a senior member of staff.
The student should be questioned in the presence of another member of staff to ascertain whether or not a prescription drug has been taken and how much.
Parents will be informed and called to the School. The student may need hospital treatment.
A report of the incident must be recorded as soon as possible by the Head of Year and sent to the Head, Deputy Head or Head of School. It will be the Head’s decision whether to inform the Police.
Discovery/observation When a person is discovered using, supplying or holding a suspected class ”C” drug, the person should be approached and the substance confiscated (if no harm/danger would be caused to the student or the member of staff). A senior member of the staff will be called and the student(s) involved questioned. If the substance is not on prescription and is being supplied or sold to others, the local Police will be contacted and any substance(s) found must be handed to the Police.
Parents will be informed and called to the School. A report of the incident should be recorded as soon as possible by the Head of Year and sent to the Head, Deputy Head or Head of School.
Disclosure When a student discloses to a member of staff that he/she has been using class “C” drugs, or is concerned about someone else’s drug use, teachers should be non-judgemental and caring and show concern for the student’s welfare.
Students must be informed at this stage that staff cannot promise complete confidentiality. The Head must also be informed and the Police may be called if the drug use is illegal.
Parents will be informed and called to the School. A report of the incident should be recorded as soon as possible by the Head of Year and sent to the Head, Deputy Head or Head of School.
Suspicion/rumour - AS FOR CLASS ”A” AND “B” DRUGS
CIGARETTES, SOLVENTS AND ALCOHOL
Emergency situations Where a person is unconscious as a result of taking any of the above, School Office should be contacted (0) for a first aider, but the student should NOT be left alone. The student will be placed in the recovery position and an ambulance called if necessary.
Parents will be informed and called to the School. An investigation should be started to ascertain what has been taken and how much. A report of the incident should be recorded as soon as possible by the Head of Year and sent to the Head, Deputy Head or to the Head of School.
Intoxication from solvents or alcohol. The student should be removed to the “sick room” or any other quiet room but NOT left alone. School Office should be contacted (0) for a first aider, and a senior member of staff called. The student should be questioned in the presence of another member of staff to ascertain what and how much has been taken.
The parents will be informed and called to the School. The student may need to go to hospital. A report of the incident should be recorded as quickly as possible by the Head of Year and sent to the Head, Deputy Head or Head of School.
Discovery/observation - When a person is found using, supplying or holding any of the above, the following action will be taken:
Cigarettes - If students are found smoking on the premises at School or in its immediate vicinity during School hours, they will receive a warning and/or sanctions. For a second offence a letter will be sent home and the student will receive sanctions.
Alcohol and Solvents - The student should be approached and the substance confiscated (if no harm/danger would be caused to the student or to the member of staff). A senior member of staff will be called and the student(s) involved questioned.
Parents will be informed and possibly called to the School. A report of the incident must be recorded as soon as possible by the Head of Year and sent to the Head, Deputy Head or Head of School.
Disclosure - When a student discloses to a member of staff that he or she has been using any of the above, or is concerned about someone else using cigarettes, alcohol or solvents, s/he must be informed at this stage that staff cannot promise complete confidentiality.
It will be a senior member of staff's decision whether to contact parents and/or local agencies for support. A report of the incident must be recorded as soon as possible by the Head of Year and sent to the Head, Deputy Head or Head of School.
Suspicion/rumour - Staff should not act hastily on the basis of rumours of alcohol abuse or solvent inhalation, or judge a student on the basis of their behaviour alone. A lot of “odd” behaviour can be accounted for by adolescence. However, if there is suspicion, evidence should be collected over a period of time, recorded on paper and stored, before a decision is made to question the students involved.
The appropriate Head of Year must be kept fully informed at all times and a senior member of staff should carry out the questioning with another member of staff present.
ADMINISTERING MEDICINES
In most cases parents, not teachers, will administer medicines to their children out of School hours, but where this is not possible, parents of the child in need of medication must ensure that the School is accurately advised in writing about the medicine - its usage and administration.
In the case of asthma inhalers, these will be kept with the student for easy and immediate use, especially during strenuous activity like PE.
It is recognised that staff cannot be required to administer prescribed medicines to students.