Education Queensland ensures that all students have access to drug education programs and provisions for intervention throughout their time at school in the context of curriculum and policy requirements.
Statement of intent
Education Queensland accepts that it has an important contribution to make to the public health goals of preventing the uptake of harmful drug use and reducing the harmful effects of legal and illicit drugs to individuals and society. Education Queensland recognises that teaching young people about the harmful effects of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use is a key preventative measure in the on-going effort to address drug-related harm.
The Queensland Government endorses harm minimisation as the fundamental principle governing Australia's development of policies and programs to address the negative impact of legal and illicit drugs on our society. Supporting an individual's right to become abstinent, or to not use alcohol, tobacco or other drugs unlawfully, is a significant component of any approach. Harm minimisation approaches aim to maintain open communication about alcohol tobacco and other drug use with people currently using them.
Harm minimisation accepts that, despite our best efforts, some young people will choose to use alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, even some illicit drugs. It does not mean that we, as individuals, or as a system, condone that use. Within this context, however, it should be made clear to students that unlawful drug use and possession of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs at school is not acceptable.
Harm minimisation does not necessarily mean approval of drug use and should not be equated with support for legalisation of all drugs. It is an approach that aims to reduce the adverse health, social and economic consequences of alcohol and other drugs by minimising or limiting the harms and hazards of drug use for both the community and the individual without necessarily eliminating use.
Education Queensland schools implement drug education programs which:
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ensure students, throughout their time at school, have access to drug education which has clearly defined educational outcomes
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maintain a collaborative, coordinated approach to drug education in the context of state and national strategies;
are embedded in the school curriculum across all years of schooling
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ensure a coordinated, sequenced program is delivered by teachers who understand the individual needs of students.
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The
Principles for School Drug Education 
provide a broad conceptual tool to inform the planning, implementation and review of school drug education programs, policies and practices.
Responsibilities
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (Schools) DRUG INTERVENTION IN SCHOOLS
PRINCIPAL DRUG EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS:
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implements drug education programs within appropriate curriculum areas across all years of schooling that reinforce public health and safety messages in regard to alcohol, tobacco and illicit drug consumption
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incorporates into long term planning and reporting processes statements about drug education
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informs the school community of drug education programs and procedures in a culturally sensitive manner
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provides professional development opportunities that assist teachers to achieve drug-related educational outcomes
DRUG INTERVENTION IN SCHOOLS
- facilitates a process for identifying and supporting students who are at risk of using drugs
- develops a range of responses to drug -related incidents that take into account:
- the nature of the incident
- the circumstances of the student(s) involved, including relevant age, development, gender, cultural and social considerations
- the needs and safety of others in the school
- protects the health and safety of the student(s), other students, school staff and the wider community involved in drug-related incidents
- determines that an appropriate approach to conducting investigations into drug-related incidents is maintained
- communicates to all school staff the acceptable process to follow if students are found to be in possession of:
- informs local police when an illicit substance is found by school staff and arrange for police to collect the substance as soon as possible
- informs the Executive Director (Schools) when police are called to respond to a drug-related incident
- adheres to the procedures outlined in GVR-PR-001: Police Interviews and Police or Staff Searches at State Educational Institutions
- considers the role of the parent and their right to be involved in discussions and plans for follow up action in regard to a drug-related incident
- follows the policy SMS-PR-021 Safe, Supportive and Disciplined School Environment in dealing with a drug-related incident
- assesses the need for referral to other agencies and establishes protocols with relevant professionals and agencies to provide:
- professional development for school staff
- advice and resources for school staff, parents and students
- medical assessment
- in particular, counselling and rehabilitation services for students involved with illicit and other unsanctioned drugs
- ensures confidential records of drug related incidents at school are maintained to support monitoring and evaluation of intervention policies and procedures.
SCHOOL STAFF -
have legal and professional responsibilities to respond to information about, and incidents involving, student use or possession of legal and/or illicit drugs at schools or during school activities
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school staff members or employees who reasonably suspect that a student is in possession of an illicit substance:
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accompany the student, together with the student's school bag, to a safe place, for example, the administration building
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immediately inform the principal
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arrange for local police to be contacted, where possible
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organise for a second staff member to be present until police attend (where possible at least one staff member will be the same gender as the student present); and
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pass a found substance believed to be alcohol or an illicit drug (including illegally supplied prescription drugs) to the principal.
CENTRAL OFFICE -
develops policy and procedures for drug education and intervention in schools
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provides information and guidelines to assist schools in implementing the policy
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facilitates inter-sectoral and inter-departmental links and ensures the Education Queensland Policy for Drug Education and Intervention in Schools is consistent with state and national drug strategies
Contacts
For further information regarding drug education, teaching and learning, please contact:
For further information regarding managing drug-related incidents please contact:
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