Take Action in Secondary Schools

SECTION IV:
Policies and Guidelines

What is an Alcohol and Substance Use School Policy?

A school policy or guideline on alcohol and substance use could be as simple as one paragraph, stating the school’s overall goal for a “drug free” learning environment and commitment to helping to create healthy young people for tomorrow.

Or, ideally, it could be as detailed as outlining an overall goal, followed by objectives, rules, and consequences for infractions by students. Regardless of what the policy includes, a key element for its success is the involvement of the students, parents and school staff throughout the process. They should be part of the development, adoption and implementation of the policy.

A comprehensive alcohol and drug policy aims to prevent tobacco, alcohol and other drug use, and the problems associated with this use, through school-based initiatives. School policy and programs typically address three essential components: Prevention, Intervention and Discipline.

Is there a secret formula for prevention?

There is no secret formula for school prevention programs. Making lasting changes in behaviour and attitudes requires a comprehensive approach, a continued effort, and a variety of committed partnerships sustained over time.

Linked to students’ developmental stages, prevention programming should extend through all grade levels and should not be confined to health classes. Ideally, it should be incorporated into a spectrum of subject areas and school activities and involve students in the planning and delivery. Expectations related to substance use and abuse prevention are included in the Healthy Active Living curriculum for Grades 1-10.

What does intervention involve?

Despite the best prevention efforts, identification and intervention may still be required. Intervention includes developing protocols for staff that provide information on identification and referral for students with known or suspected problems with drug use. These services can be provided either by internal school supports or external agencies where appropriate. Check with your school administration to see what services are available to students in your school or within your community. It is imperative to ensure student confidentiality while providing these services.

Does discipline always mean suspension?

While clear guidelines are needed for disciplining students for possession or trafficking on school property, there is some flexibility in the sanctions. The aim of the disciplinary component is two-pronged:

• To deter and prevent any illegal use of drugs on school property
• To provide guidelines for the consequences of infractions, ranging from reprimands to expulsion

While legislation may change over time, in accordance with the current Education Act, the principal shall suspend any student for possessing alcohol or illegal drugs while at school or engaged in a school related activity (i.e., authority is in regulation 106 and regulation 37, which address trafficking and drugs in school). However, it should be noted that the suspension of a student is not mandatory if:

• The student does not have the ability to control his or her behaviour
• The student does not have the ability to understand the foreseeable consequences of his or her behaviour
• The continuing presence of the student in the school does not create an unacceptable risk to the safety or well-being of any person in the school

Being referred to the intervention component assures that the student would be offered assistance.

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