Procedure 2.1.13

Section 2.1: School Related Operations

Approved: October 2, 2001

Revised: October 16, 2018

SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND RELATED BEHAVIOUR

Procedures

1.0             General

1.1             The responsibility of the Substance Abuse and Related Behaviour Policy rests with the Chief Executive Officer through the superintendents, principal and vice-principals of each school.

1.2             The Substance Abuse and Related Behaviour Policy will be outlined in the school’s student handbook, which will be reviewed with students at the beginning of each school year and at time of entry for new students. In addition, the policy may be reviewed with students through some of the following means: the student handbook, grade assemblies, and on the school website/blog, etc.

1.3             It is the responsibility of the staff and employees of the District School Board Ontario North East (DSB1) to report a reasonable suspicion of an incident of substance use/abuse to the principal or vice-principal.  In addition, all members of a school community, students, staff and parents, share a responsibility for maintaining a safe school environment through reporting suspicions of incidents of substance use and abuse.

1.4             The implementation of the Substance Abuse and Related Behaviour Policy will improve communication between the school, parents and community support agencies.

2.0             Management of Tobacco, Cannabis, and Smoking-related Incidents

2.1             Students will not smoke, inhale, chew tobacco or vape in the school or on school board property and/or on buses under contract with the Board or at school-sponsored activities unless within the designated area.

2.2             No student in possession of tobacco, cannabis or smoking-related products (e.g., e-cigarettes, vaping products) shall supply such products to a student under the legal age to purchase such products.

2.3             The principal or designate has the right to suspend a student in violation of the above in accordance with Procedure 2.1.18 – Safe Schools: Student Discipline, Bullying Prevention and Intervention.

2.4             The principal or designate will advise the parent/guardian of the offence and the disciplinary action taken.

2.5             The Principal or designate may recommend “stop smoking” programs for repeat offenders.

3.0             Management of Substance Abuse and Related Incidents for the Purpose of Intoxication

3.1             No alcoholic, illegal, controlled and/or restricted substances or prescription drugs/inhalants of any type for the purpose of intoxication are permitted under any circumstances in the school or on school board property and/or on buses under contract with the Board or at school sponsored activities.

3.2             Where students are involved, regardless of age, alcoholic beverages will not be available to anyone at any banquet or event that is sponsored by, or operated in the name of, any school under the jurisdiction of the DSB1.

3.3             Where a school sponsored event takes place off school board property, and students are involved, the following shall apply:

• the location be a non-licensed establishment, or
• no special permit shall be sought, or
• if the location is licensed, no alcoholic beverages will be permitted in the banquet or event area.

3.4             Any student enrolled in a school operated by DSB1 found to be in possession of or judged to be under the influence of alcohol, illegal, controlled and/or restricted substances or prescription drugs taken for the purpose of intoxication while on board property and/or school bus or while participating in any school function, regardless of location, shall be suspended from school in accordance with Procedure 2.1.18 – Safe Schools: Student Discipline, Bullying Prevention and Intervention.

3.5             In investigating and concluding the evidence is sufficient to warrant a suspension, the Principal will immediately contact the parent/guardian and advise of the incident and terms of the suspension.

3.6             In addition to the suspension, if the incident occurs at a school-sponsored activity (e.g., school dance, sporting event, extra-curricular event), the student shall be prohibited from participating in the same kind of activity for a period not to exceed one school year, or for once a year events, in the following year.

3.7             The Police may be called into the school as per the Ontario North East Region Safe Schools Protocol to assist in prevention of drug use and/or trafficking in schools.

3.8             When the principal or designate has reasonable suspicion that alcohol/illegal, controlled and/or restricted substances or prescription drugs/inhalants are contained in a student’s locker or desk, the Principal or designate is authorized to search such person, bags, locker, and/or desk. A witness must be present.

3.9             The Principal or designate shall arrange for careful monitoring of the student while in the school’s custody and the safe departure of the student from the school property or school-sponsored activity by either the parent, legal guardian, police or ambulance.

3.10        The Principal or designate may require, as a condition of return after the suspension, that the student be attending appropriate counselling sessions. The Principal or designate may determine the length of time for which counselling is to be sought.

4.0             Management of Substance Abuse and Related Incidents for the Purposes of Trafficking

4.1             No student shall traffic in alcohol, illegal, controlled and/or restricted substances, prescription drugs/inhalants in the school or on school board property and/or on buses under contract with the board or at school-sponsored activities.  School administrators will follow the Ontario North East Region Safe Schools Protocol to assist in prevention of drug use and/or trafficking in schools.

4.2             Staff members must report any and all reasonable suspicions to the principal or designate.

4.3             Where a student is suspected to be in contravention of the above the police will be immediately contacted and the parent/guardian will be advised. In instances where police wish to interview students under the age of 18, the principal or designate will immediately call a parent/guardian of the student and invite them to accompany the student in the police interview.

4.4             The student will be immediately suspended pending investigation in accordance with Procedure 2.1.18 – Safe Schools: Student Discipline, Bullying Prevention and Intervention.

4.5             If a suspension leads to a recommendation for expulsion, the process for an expulsion proceeding as outlined in Policy/Procedure 2.1.18 will be followed.

5.0             Management of Sports Performance and/or Appearance Enhancement Through Drug Abuse Related Incidents

5.1             No student shall use non-prescription/prescription drugs to improve athletic performance or enhance appearance.

5.2             Staff members will report reasonable suspicion to the principal or designate.

5.3             When the principal or designate has a reasonable suspicion that a student is in contravention of the above, the parent or guardian will be immediately contacted.

5.4             The Principal or designate may recommend counselling regarding the use/abuse of these drugs.

5.5             A student in contravention of the above will be immediately suspended pending investigation in accordance with Procedure 2.1.18 – Safe Schools: Student Discipline, Bullying Prevention and Intervention. Further to the suspension, the student will be prohibited from participating in school sports for a period not to exceed one school year.

References

Ontario School Code of Conduct

Education Act

Policy/Procedure 2.1.18