Drugs

Drugs in this context are to include either restricted or prohibited substances, therefore legal and unregulated drugs which do not fall into this category i.e. Caffeine, which is included in:

Coffee
Tea
Coca-Cola, etc.

which requires no action whatsoever unless the child or young person has an allergy to any of the items.

Legal, regulated drugs, which include:
Alcohol
Cigarettes
Tobacco

In all of these cases a child or young person, using or in possession should be counselled and informed of the ill effects and unacceptability of them using these substances, for it is not a matter that necessitates contacting the police or social workers unless there is serious suspicion of a crime being committed in them being obtained.  If it becomes apparent that a child or young person is abusing any of these substances their Social Worker and the Person with Parental Responsibility will be informed.  Howestead Lodge actively discourages the child or young person from smoking and has an ongoing policy and programme aimed at educating all the children or young people on the dangers of smoking to themselves and others.  Included in the programme, together with the health issues are the possible financial and anti-social implications associated with smoking.  Should a child or young person wish to stop smoking whilst at Howestead Lodge all the staff group (including domestic staff) will totally support and encourage the child or young person to do so.  To facilitate this staff should not smoke in the presence of any child or young person, smokers or non-smokers.  No smoking is permitted on the premises.  This is explained on arrival and forms part of the placement agreement.  Sanctions may be imposed if they ignore this guidance.

Legal but dangerous substances which include:

Aerosols
Gas
Glue
Petrol
Solvents (Tippex, Permanent Markers etc)

As before the young person should be counselled in the dangers and unacceptability of using such substances and their use noted on their file, but it is not necessary to contact the police or Social Worker unless there is a serious suspicion that they have been obtained illegally.

Controlled substances which include:

Amphetamines (“Speed”, Methedrine, Dexidrine, “Uppers”, “Whizz”)
Barbiturates (“Downers”, “Reds”, “Temmys”, “Wobbles”, “DFs”)
Cannabis (“Grass”, “Leaf”, “Dope”, “Boo”, “Shit “,“Bush”,“Skunk”)
Cocaine and derivatives (“Coke”, “Crack”, “Toot”, “Charlie”)
Hallucinogens (“E”, Ecstasy”, “Acid”, “LSD”, “Trips”, “Caps”, “MDNA”)
Hashish (Cannabis Resin, “Hash”, “Dope”, “Tack”, “Smash”)
Narcotics (Heroin, Morphine and derivatives, ”Brown”, “Smack”)

These are both illegal and control led drugs and possessions of the same should be notified to the police and social worker.  Staff should meet about the specific management Plan which is to be instigated to deal with this problem.

There should be a clear distinction and an attempt to find out whether any such substances are merely for the use of the person or whether they are “dealing” which is a much more serious matter indeed.  It should be borne in mind that each case should be taken separately and matters around the child or young person should be looked at and identification of the substances important.