1. Substance Use Policy Committee Information Meeting
SPHE- PCSP
2004

2. Ground rules for meeting
Why do we need ground rules?
Work effectively
Safe and secure working environment
Open and honest discussion
Equality of participation
Everyone’s views are listened to with respect
Non-judgmental
Confidentiality
Secrecy
Respect
Naming/personal references
Nothing wrong with fun!

3. Circular 13/02
“The central objective of a school substance use policy is the welfare, care, protection and education of every young person .It should also equip schools and teachers to deal with issues relating to substance misuse in a planned and considered way and in accordance with their statutory responsibilities”

4. What is a Substance Use Policy?
Written Framework for Whole school Community.
Reflects Ethos, Legal, Social and Cultural Context.
Aims to develop a shared understood approach with clear structured guidance.
Approved, ratified and circulated by B.O.M.
Referred to and Implemented
Mediated to all.

5. A policy informs a school community-
Procedures on :
Education concerning Substance Use
Management of alcohol, tobacco and drug-related incidents.
What to do?
Whom to contact - when and how?
What decisions should be made and by whom?
Provision for training and Staff development

6. Seven steps Establish a core committee
Study relevant resource documents and legislation
Review current situation in the school
Prepare a draft policy
Publicise, amend and finalise the draft policy
Ratify, circulate and implement
Monitor, review and evaluate

7. Step 1: Establish a core committee to develop the policy 1
Who will convene/ chair meetings?
Who will record the work ?
What assistance will the committee need and where can it be sourced?
How will the committee consult with the various groups in the school community?
What are the roles of outside agencies?
1 Guidelines, page 3

8. Step 2: Study relevant resource documents and legislation 2
S.P.H.E Curriculum
Walk Tall Programme
Child Protection Guidelines and Procedures for Primary Schools
Directory of Alcohol, Drugs and related services (Health Promotion Unit)
Facts about Drug Abuse in Ireland (Health Promotion Unit)
(Post Primary) and (Primary)
2 Guidelines, page 4

9. Legislation Misuse of Drugs Acts, 1977 and 1984
Education Act 1998, Section 29.
Education (Welfare) Act, 2000.
Non fatal offences against the persons Act, 1997
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act,1989
Public Health (Tobacco) Act, 2002
Info. Re: Acts.
Possession – small amts. For personal use
As in 1 but to supply to others.
Production.
Growing of opium, poppies, cannabis and cocoa plants.
Supply or intent to supply to another person.
Importation or exportation.
Allowing premises you occupy to be used for supply or production of drugs or permitting the use of drugs on premises.
Printing / sale of books or magazines that encourage the use of controlled drugs or which contain advertisements for drug equipment.
(“Facts about drug abuse in Ireland”- available from HPU – Dept. of Health and Children.)
Education Act , Sec. 29 – Appeals against expulsions.
Education Welfare Act. Sub. Section 4. – permits schools to require parents to sign codes of behaviour.
Non- fatal offences…Act- no need for parental consent for over 16’s to receive medication.
Safety and protection at work act-Duty to provide occupational first aid.

10. Practical Review Workshop
Separate into your school policy committees.
Appoint chair, recorder and reporter.

11. Review of Current School Situation
Current provision regarding alcohol, tobacco and drug education (Programmes, Projects and Subjects)
Existing School Policies (Smoking, Alcohol, Drugs, Medicines, code of Behaviour and Health and Safety Statement).
Current understanding in relation to alcohol, tobacco and drug use: (Level and range of drug use in the community and staff views).
“A drug is any chemical which alters how the body works, or how a person behaves or feels”

12. Step 4: Prepare a draft policy statement 4
Title of Policy.
Scope:
To whom does the policy apply?
When does the policy apply?
Relationship to School’s Mission/ Vision/ Aims
Rationale
See pages 1 and 2 of the Guidelines
Goals/ Objectives
c.f. SPHE Curriculum page10
4 Guidelines, page 7

13. Policy Content Education concerning Substance Use5
In what ways will education concerning substance use be provided within the broad context of SPHE?
Walk Tall and other resources.
“An SPHE programme is most effective when it is based on a consistency of approach and responsibility shared by teachers, parents , BOM , health professionals and relevant members of the community”6
5 Guidelines, page 9
6 SPHE Curriculum Statement, page 4

14. Policy Content
Management of alcohol, tobacco and drug-related incidents 7
Incidents involving alcohol, tobacco and drug use might include
Use or suspected use
Intoxication/unusual behaviour
Disclosure about use
Finding these substances and/or associated paraphernalia
Possession and/or supply
7 Guidelines, page 9
Assess the situation- is acute medical intervention necessary?
Deal only with the facts.
Take enough time to develop a response.
Record Facts.
N.B. Confidentiality.
Inform Parents/ Guardians.
Chairperson/Manager.
Record the schools response and decisions.
Involvement of other agencies e.g. Gardaí, Health Board.

15. Incidents Tobacco Alcohol Over the counter drugs Prescription drugs
Illegal drugs
Solvents
Rules for staff
Rules for pupils
Rules for storage

16. Administration of medicines:
Parents put in writing to principal request to administer medicine.
Childs name, medication, exact dosage and time, parent’s/ guardians signature.
Parents responsible for provision and availability.
Medication should be kept in a safely and administered from principals office.
Changes in dosage or time to be notified in writing .
Renew request at start of each year.
Keep record of administration in office.
INTO

17. Policy Content Provision for Training and Staff Development 8
In-service on SPHE.
First Aid training
Drug awareness training and skills development e.g. Substance Misuse Prevention Programme ; Health Promotion Unit.
Explore attitudes to drugs and how these may effect responses to incidents – Walk Tall Teacher Training Courses
Parent Education- Health Promotion Unit
Proactive Involvement of outside agencies e.g. Gardaí
Awareness of Laws relating to Schools and drugs.
8 Guidelines, page11

18. Step 4: Prepare a draft policy framework 9
Roles and Responsibilities
Success criteria
Monitoring procedures (who will do what and when to see how the policy is working)
Review procedures – Ongoing process- should happen on a regular basis –e.g. yearly
Timeframe – deadlines for committee , for drawing up procedures , for consultation , timetabling of programmes
Implementation Programme. (List of tasks, when they will be done, by whom?)
9 Guidelines, pages 7 and 8

19. Step 5: Publicise, revise/amend and finalise the draft policy 10
Circulated as widely as possible for the views of:
Parents and guardians.
Teachers
Students.
School Management- important that particular effort made to involve parents who might not normally be reached.
Revision of the draft policy should be informed by feedback from this process.
10 Guidelines, page 12

20. Step 6: Ratify, circulate and implement the agreed policy 11
B.O.M. ratify
Committee circulates policy.
Staff become familiar with policy.
Implementation based on Policy.
Changes in curriculum, school rules and code of behaviour - should be noted to all the school community.
This policy should be part of the enrolment policy.
Parents should be asked to sign that they agree to be bound by the policy.
11 Guidelines, page 12

21. Step 7: Monitor, review and evaluate the policy 12
This process might be co-ordinated by core committee in consultation with the wider school community.
It should reflect changing information, legislation and developments in the school based programme.
Feedback should be taken from guardians, parents, teachers and students and this should inform any changes to be made to the policy.
12 Guidelines, page 12

22. www.pcsp.ie Follow link to SPHE
Template for developing Substance Use Policy