FEATURE FOCUS: MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING
development. Frequent use can lead to long-term health problems due to substances interference with neurotransmitters and damaging connections within the brain.
The effects can be life changing and can reduce the ability to experience pleasure as well as create problems with memory. Substance misuse can also cause sleep disorders, heart disease and high blood pressure. With drugs such as cannabis becoming more potent, and so called ‘recreational drugs’ being readily available and affordable, drug use amongst school aged children and young adults is becoming more prevalent and a greater risk to their health – not just now but future health, too.
Spotting the signs early
It is the responsibility of all staff members to recognise signs of substance misuse. It is the school’s duty of care to act on reasonable suspicions and deal with those suspicions swiftly. Most schools will have a drugs and alcohol policy and a safeguarding lead responsible for implementing that policy at the school. This helps to ensure processes are adhered to and safeguarding is maintained.
Raising awareness amongst all staff of the signs of drug taking is important, although it can be very difficult for schools to spot early warning signs. Changes in behaviour may be gradual and can be caused by any number of things, or simply reflect normal teenage behaviour.
However, there are some signals which teachers should not ignore – whether related to substance misuse, or not. These signals may include the following, amongst others: • A pupil has become withdrawn • They may have abandoned long-term friendship groups • A drop in academic performance • Attendance has dropped • A loss of interest in activities which they were previously heavily involved with • Their appearance may have changed • They may have developed problems with concentration.
Knowing the lingo
Staying alert to the types of drugs that are most commonly used by school-aged children and the ever-changing drug terminology is also important. Picking up on - and learning - a slang word used during a conversation amongst students may just be the difference between helping a student or missing the opportunity to provide support.
You may have heard of weed, marijuana, cannabis, speed or ecstasy but perhaps not the more unusual names given to variations of those drugs or designer ‘strains’ or hybrids, designed for maximum quality and effect.
Some examples include Purple Urkle, Willy’s Wonder, Permafrost, Pineapple Express, Strawberry Cough, Island Sweet Skunk, Sour Diesel, Purple Kush, and Blue Dream. There are a whole host more and, in my opinion, it is worth researching to find out others.
Knowing what to look for if searching students’ property
Your school may operate spot checks, in line with your drugs policy and within government guidelines, and staff will be familiar with what to look for with regards to drugs and alcohol. As well as the physical presence of drugs or alcohol, the other obvious things to look for are items which assist with drug taking such as lighters, foil, filter papers, empty packages, syringes etc. Traces of white powder or loose tobacco may also be an indication of drug use or possession.
Worryingly we are also aware that some drugs (NPS) have even been packaged to appeal to children and to look remarkably like well-known brands of crisps or sweet packets, so worth looking closely at any packets found when you have suspicions of drug use.
Discrete testing
Drug testing in the educational arena can be used to tackle ‘recreational’ drug misuse before it becomes an addiction. It can also help educational institutions in tailoring programmes around drug and alcohol misuse. Where there is reason to suspect drug misuse, schools can consult with local authorities and local police and engage with additional services such as drug dog searches and drug testing.
Drug testing is not usually commonplace in schools and, if it does happen, it happens behind the scenes. Random drug tests are more common in boarding schools, at the school’s discretion and with parental consent. Random drug testing may also be introduced for a period of time following a drug-related incident in the school. Going down the drug test route, is an option
September 2022
when it’s important to prove a student has been taking drugs, to help provide the best support for that student. Consent from a pupil, and also from their parents or guardians, must be sought before a test can be carried out.
Tests available include hair, blood, nail and saliva tests for detecting the use of alcohol and most types of drugs – including NPS (New Psychoactive Substances). The drug test laboratory will advise on which test is most appropriate - according to whether there is a need to detect substance use in-the-moment - or whether it has been taken over a long period of time. Test results can be delivered on-site or via laboratory testing, depending on which test is required. In addition, some laboratories, such as ours, will provide training for safeguarding leads so school staff can collect samples from students and have them tested at the laboratory. We often find parents or guardians are very hesitant about drug testing, but this is mainly due to misconceptions about anonymity and the impact on their child’s reputation, both within and outside of school. At Cansford Laboratories, sample collection will always be carried out by DBS-checked collectors from testing laboratories, and we safeguard the privacy of those being tested.
The quicker you get to a student you suspect is using drug and/or alcohol, the greater chance you have of preventing future drug misuse. We acknowledge drug and alcohol abuse is often extremely complex and no one measure is cut and dry in helping to prevent future misuse. But there are many tools available to schools which can help educate staff and provide support to students as a first step to helping those students. Your knowledge and swift action might just make the difference to a student’s health and wellbeing in relation to addiction, both immediately and in the long term.
Sources:
*National statistics – England mise treatment statistics 2020 to 2021: report
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/substance- misuse-treatment-for-young-people-statistics-2020- to-2021/young-peoples-substance-misuse-treatment- statistics-2020-to-2021-report
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