Drugs

All schools should have a drug policy which covers the content and organisation of drug education, the management of drug incidents, and meeting the needs of pupils. The policy should be developed in consultation with pupils, parents, governors and the wider school community.

Information for schools

The Department is consulting on revised guidance to schools on all matters relating to drug education, the management of drugs within the school community, supporting the needs of pupils with regard to drugs and drug-policy development. The guidance has been revised in response to the recommendations of the Advisory Group on Drug and Alcohol Education, who reported to ministers in October 2008. The guidance defines drugs as including alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs, as well as medicines and volatile substances.

The revised guidance will have the same status as the current Drugs: Guidance for schools which was published in February 2004. It will help support schools to put together their drug and alcohol curriculum until September 2011 when personal, social and health education (PSHE) — which includes drug, alcohol and sex and relationships education — becomes a compulsory subject for all school-aged children in England (subject to legislation).

The consultation began on 13 November 2009 and runs for 13 weeks to 15 February 2010.

A copy of the consultation document and a response form can be found of the DCSF Consultations website.
Read the press release accompanying the consultation.

Copies of the current guidance and supporting summary are available here:

Drugs: Guidance for schools
Drugs: Guidance for schools — Summary for headteachers and governors
The Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA) has developed exemplar drug, alcohol and tobacco curriculum materials for Key Stages 1 to 4.

The Drug Education Forum

The Drug Education Forum is the umbrella body for national organisations that deliver or support the delivery of drug education in England. The website includes information that is helpful to practitioners and others with an interest in drug education and prevention.

The FRANK drug-awareness campaign

A pack produced by the Government's FRANK campaign focuses specifically on vulnerable groups, including school excludees and truants, young offenders, the homeless, young people in care and children of substance-misusing parents. These young people are among those most likely to become problematic drug users and, as such, are most in need of support. Vulnerable young people — Making the difference highlights the key issues that they face and outlines practical action points.

FRANK provides free, confidential drugs information and advice 24 hours per day. The key purpose of the campaign is to ensure that young people understand the risks and dangers of drugs and know where to go for advice and help. It also offers advice to parents and carers on how to talk to their children about drugs. For more information please ring 0800 77 66 00 or visit the FRANK website.

The DrugScope website also has an area, D-world, designed for schools and families, which focuses on understanding the impact of drugs, alcohol and tobacco.

Reclassification of cannabis

The Government reclassified cannabis from Class C to Class B in January 2009. The decision was part of the new ten-year drug strategy (Drugs: Protecting families and communities) published in February 2008. A young person found to be in possession of cannabis will be arrested.

Other sources of information

The Federation of Drug and Alcohol Professionals (FDAP) is the professional body for practitioners in the substance misuse field, working to help improve standards of practice in dealing with people — including children — with drug and alcohol problems. Visit their Drinkanddrugs.net website, which is a web portal for those who deal with drug and alcohol issues in the course of their work, and to download Drink and Drugs News, a free, fortnightly magazine. The FDAP also holds training events and conferences, and offers professional qualifications opportunities.

Last updated: 13 November 2009