A new set of guidelines for schools on drug misuse was today launched by the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science, Ms Síle de Valera.
The guidelines are in the form of a 24-page booklet and were drawn up by the Department of Education in partnership with the Department of Health and the Health Boards. The Government says the aim is to assist schools in developing a substance use policy.
The guidelines claim to promote an agreed approach between teachers, parents and students not only to the provision of education concerning alcohol, tobacco and drugs but also the procedures for managing incidents relating to these substances.
Speaking at the launch today, Ms de Valera said: "Young people are particularly vulnerable to drug misuse the Government is determined to take the necessary measures to protect our children from the dangers of substance abuse and to provide them with the skills and knowledge, which they need to make the right choices in relation to their health and welfare."
She said: "The fight against drugs is one of the great challenges for all countries in the modern world. However, we in Ireland need to face up to the reality that we actually have a more serious problem than a number of other countries with which we like to compare ourselves."
The Minister said: "This is particularly evident in relation to alcohol abuse. For the population as a whole, alcohol consumption per capita in Ireland increased by 41 per cent in the period from 1989 to 1999 while the other EU Member States showed either a decrease or a modest increase. Ireland now has the second highest per capita consumption of alcohol in the EU."
"The guidelines which I am launching today are one element of the response to the problem - but, I believe, an important one as it is only by changing the attitudes and behaviours of our pupils in school that we can make a long-term and sustainable impact on the problem. "
"The education, welfare, care and protection of every student should be the underlying objective of the school substance use policy," she added.
She warned: "This means schools must go beyond a simple 'zero tolerance' approach and strive to maintain an appropriate balance between between a pastoral and disciplinary response."
"They need to bear in mind that the ultimate sanction of expulsion can further alienate the student and result in him/her becoming more involved in the culture of drug misuse."
The booklet will be posted to every primary and secondary school in the State over the next two weeks, a spokeswoman in the Department of Education said.
