Dainfern College

"The Dainfern College Policy on the Management of Drug Use and Abuse by Learners" is based on the National "Policy Framework for the Management of Drug Abuse by Learners in Schools and in Public Further Education and Training Institutions", which was published as a General Notice in the Government Gazette dated 13 December 2002 and clarified in the Government Gazette dated 4 May 2007.

The policy has been written in keeping with the current medical and psychological understanding of substance use and abuse by adolescent learners.

1. Definitions

• "Dainfern College" is taken to include the Preparatory School and the High School.
• "The School" is taken to mean Dainfern College.
• "Drug" is taken to mean a chemical substance that produces a psychoactive effect. For the purpose of this policy it excludes alcohol and tobacco, but includes herbal cigarettes, cannabis, inhalants, pharmaceutical drugs, illicit drugs as well as image and performance enhancing substances.
• "Substance" is taken to have the same meaning as "drug" outlined above.
• "Staff" is taken to mean all individuals employed by the school as academic, coaching or teaching personnel.

2. Introduction

The School recognises that:

• A safe and disciplined learning environment is one of the critical elements to the successful delivery of quality education and acknowledges the role played by drugs in undermining this.
• Available evidence indicates that school communities are particularly vulnerable and drug use by learners is on the increase in schools.
• There is a high correlation between drug abuse and other antisocial and high-risk behaviour, including dishonesty, theft, violence and gangsterism.
• Purely punitive approaches to drug abuse can only produce part of the solution
• Drug abuse is detrimental to individuals on social, physical, emotional and psychological levels.

3. Aims of the Policy

The policy aims:

• To help and support not only those learners who abuse drugs, but also the majority of learners and staff who do not use drugs but who may be affected by the usage of drugs by others.
• Not to condemn learners who use drugs, but to ensure that appropriate support is provided to learners who require help for drug-related problems.
• To outline the effective prevention, management and treatment plans for drug use, misuse and dependency.
• To ensure a supportive environment, ever mindful of the rights of learners with drug use, abuse or dependency problems, as well as other learners, teachers and members of the school community.

4. Guiding Principles of the Policy

In dealing with all incidents involving the use and/or abuse of substances, the school shall endeavour to adhere to the following principles:

• The possession, use or distribution of illegal drugs, and the inappropriate possession, use or distribution of legal drugs, is not acceptable at Dainfern College. This message should be clearly and consistently communicated to the school community.
• Any action taken should be consistent with the school’s desire to developing a safe and supportive Christian environment that values forgiveness and human dignity and celebrates innocence.
• Intervention should primarily be aimed at providing support, restoring health, addressing underlying psychological issues and preventing relapse.
• All information relating to drug use, misuse or dependency by a learner, should be treated sensitively and in accordance with the school's Guidelines on Confidentiality.
• In cases of drug use and/or abuse parents/guardians should be informed and involved at the earliest possible opportunity in any attempts to assist the learner.

5. The Possession, Trafficking, Supplying and Selling of Substances on Campus

The possession of substances, trafficking of substances, supplying substances to other learners, offering substances to other learners and the sale of substances to other learners on the College campus are serious offences because of the threat they provide to the safety of other learners in the school.

• In the case of a learner being discovered in possession of a prohibited substance the Principal will inform the parents and will immediately refer the matter to a Disciplinary Hearing, which may result in suspension or expulsion. The recommendation of the Hearing may also be to notify the relevant state authorities.
• When a Disciplinary Hearing finds a learner to be reasonably suspected of deliberately selling or supplying substances on campus, the school will report this to the relevant state authorities.

6. Drug Screening/Testing

The routine and random drug testing of pupils is illegal and will not take place at Dainfern College.

The Principal and/or his/her delegate has the right to administer a drug screening test or arrange for a drug screening test to be administered to a learner who is reasonably suspected of using illegal drugs. Drug screenings will be implemented in an environment that is committed to safeguarding personal rights relating to privacy, dignity and bodily integrity.

Drug screening will not be the first point of intervention in dealing with issues of substance abuse but may form part of a structured intervention that aims to educate all learners and rehabilitate learners who are using and abusing substances.

If a drug screen is considered necessary, it should form part of a structured intervention or relapse prevention programme, and should be carried out according to the following procedure:

• Any staff that have reason to believe that a learner is using drugs, should discuss this, in confidence, with the School Counsellor.
• The School Counsellor will be responsible for making contact with the learner, collecting relevant information and making an assessment of the situation.
• The School Counsellor, if it is appropriate, will ask the Principal for permission to proceed with the administration of a drug screening test.
• The Principal, in conjunction with the School Counsellor, will decide in each case as to when and how the parents are informed. The School Counsellor should ensure that the learner’s parents have given written consent for drug screening tests to be conducted. If there is no such consent the Counsellor should make contact with the parents in order to obtain their consent.
• The urine specimen for the drug screen should be collected by a professional tester in such a way that the learner’s dignity and privacy are maintained and the integrity of the sample is not compromised.
• The results of the drug screen should be made known to the Principal, the School Counsellor, the learner and the parents.
• In the case of a positive result on a drug screen the parents will be asked to ensure that a formal drug evaluation by a professional evaluator is conducted to guide the school and the respective parents on an appropriate management plan to ensure that the learner is rehabilitated. This plan should include follow-up drug screens.
• The parents and learner should be cautioned that if the learner tests positive on a follow-up drug screen, the Principal will refer the matter to a Disciplinary Hearing.

All parents on admission of their child to the College should be asked to give written consent to drug screening in accordance with this policy. The costs of a drug screen will be for the parent’s account.

7. Drug Searches

Routine random searches of pupils at Dainfern College are prohibited.

In instances where a member of staff has reason to suspect that a learner has in his or her possession an illegal or controlled substance,that member of staff should approach the Principal to discuss the situation. If the Principal believes that there is reasonable suspicion that the learner is in possession of a prohibited substance, permission will be given to proceed with a search, but only in accordance with the procedure outlined below:

• The search must be carried out by a person of the same gender.
• The search should take place in the presence of the learner concerned, a person of their choice to support them and a second adult witness of the same gender.

In the case of a search finding a learner is in possession of a prohibited substance, the Principal will be informed. The Principal will inform the parents and will refer the matter to an immediate Disciplinary Hearing, which may make the recommendation to suspend or expel the learner and/or notify the relevant state authorities.

On admission of their child to the College, parents should be asked to give their written consent to their child being searched, in accordance with this policy.

8. The Schools’ Voluntary Drug Screening Programme

All learners in the school will be given the opportunity to be part of the School’s Voluntary Drug Screening Programme (The VDS Programme) but no learner will be pressurised or forced to be part of the programme.

The school’s VDS Programme is aimed at creating a drug-free culture within the school and empowering learners to say “no” to drugs.

Learners who wish to be part of the programme will sign a pledge in which they commit themselves to saying “no” to drugs, and in which they agree to drug screening during the course of the year. Parents will be required to co-sign this document thus giving their support to the process.

On a regular basis a sample of learners who are part of the programme will undergo drug screening.

If a learner tests positive on a drug screen:

• The learner's parents will be informed.
• Together with the School Counsellor, the learner and their parents will discuss an intervention that aims to address the reasons why the learner is using substances; this process may involve a referral for a complete psychological assessment.
• Measures will be put in place to support the learner so that he or she does not continue to use substances.
• Follow-up drug screens will be part of this intervention.
• The learner will be cautioned that if he or she tests positive on a follow-up drug screen, the Counsellor will have no option but to report the incident to the Principal, who may decide to have a Disciplinary Hearing.

9. Education and Prevention Measures

Education of Learners:

The objective of preventive education is to reduce the likelihood of experimentation with drugs by providing information about the dangers of their use and misuse, as well as to reduce the stigma attached to alcohol and drug use, misuse and dependency. It is to encourage those who are experiencing problems to get the help they need.

Drug education should ensure that learners acquire age- and context-appropriate knowledge and skills, in order for them to adopt and maintain life skills and behaviour that will protect them from drug use, misuse and dependency.

Education of Parents/Guardians:

Education and information on drug use, misuse and dependency as well as the school’s policy on drug abuse should be made available to all parents/guardians of learners, as well as learners themselves, upon first registration at Dainfern College and whenever necessary thereafter.

Education of Staff:

Training should be provided for all staff on drug use, misuse and dependency management, and support. Staff should also be trained to recognise the signs and symptoms of drug use. The school should ensure that all staff are aware of the contents of this policy.

10. Disciplinary Intervention

On occasions, it may be necessary for the Principal to request that a Disciplinary Hearing be conducted to investigate instances of substance abuse in the school. In such cases, the Disciplinary Hearing will be conducted in accordance with the school’s Disciplinary Policy. In deciding on the sanctions, the Disciplinary Committee will consider each case on its individual merits taking into account:

• The nature of the incident.
• The learner’s school and family history.
• Cultural background.
• Mental health and intellectual development.
• Any other relevant information.

The following sanctions will serve as guidelines for the Disciplinary Committee when deciding on how best to deal with incidents of substance abuse:

1st Offence:

• Referral for complete drug and psychological assessment.
• Suspension from school for a period of up to one term.
• Follow-up drug screens as part of a structured intervention to prevent continued use of substances.
• A final warning for substance abuse.

2nd Offence:

• Expulsion.

Learners who have experienced or are experiencing problems as a result of drug use, misuse or dependency will be entitled to appropriate assistance, and will not be denied the opportunity to receive an education or the right to reintegration back into the school community. However, in cases where the learner does not wish to make use of such help offered to him or her, the school will have no choice but to take the necessary action, which will be expulsion.

11. The School’s Amnesty Programme

The school will support any individual who voluntarily comes forward, is honest about his or her substance use and shows a willingness to receive help with a substance abuse problem.

A learner who approaches the School Counsellor and asks for assistance with a substance use or abuse problem will not be subjected to any disciplinary action. The matter will be treated as confidential, provided the learner agrees to the management plan outlined by the Counsellor. This management plan will include:

• A contract to discontinue substance use.
• Counselling to address underlying issues.
• Consent to follow-up drug screens.

In cases where the learner does not comply with the management plan, the Counsellor will have no option but to bring the matter to the attention of the learner’s parents and the Principal, who may decide to conduct a Disciplinary Hearing.