3.6.2 Drugs and Substance Misuse

1. Definition

Substances are defined as any substances, whether restricted or prohibited, which may have a harmful effect upon a child, such as:

Alcohol, Cigarettes, Tobacco, Aerosols, Gas, Glue, Magic Mushrooms (Amanita), Petrol, Solvents and all controlled substances such as Amphetamines, Barbiturates, Benzodiazepines, Cannabis, Cocaine, Hallucinogens, Hashish and Heroin.

It also includes psychoactive substances which can cause a very similar range of problems to the drugs which they mimic, including a risk of dependence developing with repeated use. Some appear to be more dangerous even than the traditional drugs they mimic.

See: Frank - New Psychoactive Substances

See also: Frank Drugs and the Law - What is the Drug Classification System?

2. Access/Use of Drugs and Substances

i. Purchasing Drugs or Substances

All reasonable measures must be used to reduce or prevent children from obtaining drugs or substances that may harm them.

If it is known or suspected that children are obtaining products that may harm them, whether off the streets, from dealers or from traders of any kind, the manager and social worker must be informed, and a Strategy adopted to reduce or prevent it.

If the problem persists or is serious, relevant specialists or bodies, including Trading Standards or the Police, should be informed.

ii. Cigarettes and Tobacco

In foster homes, carers/visitors should be discouraged from smoking cigarettes or tobacco in front of children and children may not smoke inside the home. Foster carers are not permitted to purchase or give cigarettes, tobacco or the materials for making or lighting cigarettes or tobacco to children.

In residential care, staff/visitors are not permitted to smoke in front of children and children may not smoke inside the home. Members of residential staff are not permitted to purchase or give cigarettes, tobacco, or the materials for making or lighting cigarettes or tobacco to children.

If children are permitted to smoke, this must be approved and the arrangements for it set out in the child's Placement Plan.

iii. Alcohol

In foster homes, the foster carers' supervising social worker and the social worker for any children placed should come to an agreement with the foster carers on whether alcohol may be consumed.

In residential care, staff/visitors and children are not permitted to consume alcohol and staff are not permitted to take children into licensed premises other than those which serve food and ones that are family friendly. Such trips must be agreed with the Registered Manager of the home before they take place.

iv. Aerosols, Gas, Glue, and Petrol

Staff/carers must ensure that aerosols, gas, glue, petrol and similar substances are only used for the purpose they were designed for; and that all reasonable measures are taken to restrict their use to children who are known to pose no risk to themselves or others if they have access to them.

In foster homes, the arrangements for the obtaining, storage or access to children of these substances must be outlined in the carers' Foster Care Agreement or Placement Plan for individual children.

In residential care, the arrangements for the obtaining, storage and use of these substances must be outlined in the Staff Handbook and Children's Guide or individual children's Placement Plans.

v. Controlled Drugs and Substances

Under no circumstances may controlled drugs and substances, other than those prescribed by a medical practitioner, be permitted in any foster home or children's home.

3. Prevention and Planning

All staff/carers should ensure that information, guidance and advice on the risks associated with harmful drugs and substances are available to all Children in Care.

To make a referral to the Young Persons service, this can be done via the Turning Point website, or via the Horizon dedicated website.

The service delivers to the young people of Lincolnshire, a free and confidential service to support young people with the issues they may face around drugs and alcohol. Whether it's to cut down, quit, gain control or just to learn more about the risks and effects of taking drugs and alcohol, they can advise and guide.

Referrals to this team can be made by any adult involved with the child or by the child themselves.

For any adult enquiries please email (lincs.info@lincsrecoverypartnership.co.uk).

Additionally, any child known or suspected to be participating in drug or substances misuse activities must be provided with the following:

• Targeted relevant information, guidance and advice to help reduce or prevent such risks;
• A strategy for managing the risk, outlined in a Behaviour Management Plan;
• As part of this Strategy, consideration should also be given, through consultation with the child, to making referrals for specialist support and help children to access treatment, if appropriate.

The strategy should state whether, and in what circumstances, the Police will be notified.

4. Emergency

If it is suspected that a child is misusing harmful drugs or substances and no strategy exists to reduce or prevent the behaviour, the child's social worker should be contacted and an agreement reached on how to proceed; this will include whether the Police will be notified.

If there are immediate risks and the social worker or manager are not available, staff/carers should take what actions are immediately necessary then inform the manager and the child's social worker at the first opportunity.

The actions that staff/carers take will be dependent on the circumstances and the degree of offence or injury that is likely.

The overall responsibility of staff/carers is to protect children, themselves and others from injury and reduce or prevent the likelihood of criminal offences.

If there is a risk of serious harm, injury or of a serious criminal offence and staff/carers are unable to manage safely, the Police should be notified.

If solvents are involved, allow air to circulate freely and extinguish naked lights.

If any person is unconscious, in a fit, convulsing or otherwise seriously ill, emergency first aid should be given and an ambulance requested. The emergency services should be informed that there are suspicions of drug or solvent misuse.

The drugs/substances should be removed or confiscated, preferably with the co-operation of the child, and preferably by two staff/carers; who must record their actions, describing what they have obtained and where it has been safely stored.

If children do not cooperate or there is a risk of injury or damage to property, it may be necessary to use Physical Intervention, conduct a search or call for Police assistance.

Also see the following procedures:

• Physical Intervention and Restraint Procedure;
• Searching Children and their Belongings Procedure.

No further action, beyond making the situation safe and attempting to confiscate harmful drugs or substances, should be taken without a manager's authorisation, preferably in consultation with the child's social worker.

However, the staff/carers should undertake the following if a manager is not available within a reasonable timescale:

• Substances such as cigarettes, alcohol, aerosols, gas, glue, and petrol should be put in a safe place out of the reach of children or disposed of safely;
• Controlled substances and any associated materials or paraphernalia must be placed in a clearly marked box or other strong container and sealed, for passing to the foster carers' supervising social worker, child's social worker or manager as soon as practicable. (They must then arrange for it to be taken to a competent authority e.g. pharmacist or doctor; and a receipt obtained.)

When safe to do so, the manager and child's social worker should be notified and a decision reached on the actions/measures to be taken. This should include whether the Police should be notified.

5. Recording

Staff/carers should record any occurrence as outlined in this procedure in the child's Daily Record.