Drugs in Scotland: Report of ministerial taskforce

DRUGS IN SCOTLAND: MEETING THE CHALLENGE

SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES

12. There is a need for regular information on the prevalence of drug misuse among school-age children in order to inform the planning and development of drug prevention measures in schools (para 3.23).

13. The Scottish Office Education Department should issue guidance for all schools in Scotland stressing the importance of drugs prevention education and the need to continue to emphasise this within the syllabus (para 3.24).

14. Within their responsibilities for school inspection work generally, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Schools should have regard to how schools are tackling drug prevention education with a view to stimulating increased activity where this is shown to be necessary, disseminating good practice and ensuring that a consistent approach is taken throughout the country (para 3.25).

15. The Scottish Office Education Department should develop new drug prevention packages for use in primary schools, focusing on children in the under-10 age group, and on senior secondary pupils in the 15-18 age group (para 3.26).

16. The Scottish Office Education Department should issue policy guidance to ensure that a consistent approach is adopted regarding non- educationists who deliver drugs education in schools (para 3.27).

17. The Scottish Office Education Department should issue guidance to schools, school boards and parent/teacher associations on the development of a comprehensive drug policy and what this should cover (para 3.28).

18. The Scottish Office should issue guidance to all further and higher education institutions in Scotland on the issues which should be covered in a drugs strategy for these bodies (para 3.34).

19. The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland should co-operate in developing training packages for police officers engaged in school liaison work (para 3.35).