Rationale:

Drug Education should encourage safe and responsible behaviour towards the use of both medical and recreational drugs, through a harm minimisation approach. Harm minimisation "involves a range of approaches to prevent and to reduce drug-related harm, including prevention, early intervention, specialist treatment, supply control, safer drug use and abstinence." National Drug Strategic Plan, 1993.

Objectives:

• To develop a Drug Education Program.
• To provide students withy the skills and knowledge to make informed decisions about drugs.
• To provide harm minimisation approach to drug education within the College.
• To provide appropriate welfare advice and support to parents and students.
• To inform parents of procedures that have been put into place for drug related incidents.
• To develop a set of procedures for staff to deal with drug related student welfare, including crisis management.
• To provide ongoing eduction for staff, students and the wider community on all aspects of the Individual Schools Drug Education Strategy (ISDES).
• To form a network with community and government agencies, involved in drug harm minimisation.

• Drug Education will be incorporated as a formal part of the curriculum from Years 7 - 10.
• Drug Education will occur primarily in the learning area of Health and Physical Education, according to the Curriculum Standards Framework.
• Development of programs will be provided through the Drug Education Program, DOE and other agencies, to ensure that the Drug Education Program is kept up to date.

Responsibility of whole staff:

In all cases involving drug and alcohol use, whether self-disclosure, reported or discovered use or possession of alcohol or illegal drugs at school, all staff should document the details of their involvement in the incident on a drug incident form, which is to be given to the relevant Coordinator. To ensure they are acting within their role and responsibility, they are obliged to inform the Administration.

When a student is found under the influence of a drug, safety is the first concern.

In all situations involving the use of a drug staff should:

• Calmly assess the student's condition. Observe and ask questions to ascertain the nature of the situation. (Note: full investigation is the responsibility of the Administration).
• Seek or send for support and assistance from another staff member.
• Inform Administration.
• Seek First Aid assistance if necessary.
• In dealing with the situation endeavour to seek privacy to ensure confidentiality.

Consequences:

St Albans Secondary College is a Smoke Free School:

Students found smoking, in possession of cigarettes, or supplying cigarettes to other students anywhere in the College environment, will be liable to a range of sanctions dependent on the circumstances and whether or not previous offences have been recorded. St Albans Secondary College recognises the danger smoking and passive smoking causes to health, and has established a policy.

• Official warning and reiterate school Drug Policy and procedures. Develop a risk reduction agreement with the Level Coordinator.

• Inform parents.
• Enrol students into "Quit" Program.

• Suspension from school.
• Continuing offences:
• Will incur further suspensions and possible withdrawal from extra-curricular activities; eg: camps, excursions etc.

ALCOHOL:

Students found drinking, in possession of alcohol or supplying alcohol to other students anywhere in the College environment will be liable to a range of sanctions dependent on the circumstances, and whether or not previous offences have been recorded.

• Informing and consulting parents.
• Suspension from school.
• Counselling strategies in harm minimisation.

• Will incur further suspensions and possible withdrawal from extra-curricular activities; eg: camps, excursions etc.

INHALANTS:
The abuse of inhalants or solvents, will result in a range of sanctions dependent on the circumstances.

First incident:

• Counselling strategies in harm minimisation.
• Informing and consulting parents.
• Parent interview with Principal Class.

Second incident:

• Referral to outside agency dealing in drug dependency.

Continuing offences:

• Will incur suspensions.

ILLEGAL DRUGS:

The possession, supply or use of illegal drugs is an offence and is against the law.

Any student found in possession or using illegal drugs in any College environment will be suspended immediately. Parents will be notified in order to begin a counselling process, and the Policy may be informed.

Students will be referred to an outside agency dealing in drug dependency.
Any student found supplying illegal drugs is committing an offence against the law.
The Police will be notified and the student may be expelled.Professional Development:

• Provide information on identification of possible signs of drug misuse.
• Provide staff who are appropriately trained in First Aid treatment.
• Provide appropriate inservicing of staff involved in the delivery of the Drug Education Program.
• Inservice staff on the set of procedures for crisis management.
• Set in place appropriate referral and counselling programs for students through the Welfare Coordinator.
• To promote parent awareness by publishing a copy of the Drug Policy and drug information in Parent Newsletters.

Evaluation:

This policy will be reviewed regularly according to developments by the Department of Education.