DRUG AND ALCOHOL TESTING PROCEDURE

1 . Over the course of the year, pupils from Years 6 to 13 may be selected for drug and/or alcohol testing

2 When a pupil has been selected to undertake a test, either at random or because there is a suspicion, he/ she must provide a saliva sample on the sampler provided

3 The sample must be immediately handed to the Head of Pastoral Care or the Principal .

4 . The initial test is carried out in the Principal’s office in the presence of the Principal or the Head of Pastoral Care, the pupil and his/her Head of School

5 The initial test uses a disposable commercial clinical test strip which gives a result for five drugs (marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, opiates and ecstasy) or alcohol after 10 minutes .

If the result is negative, that is the end of the procedure. If the result is positive, there are two options:

• If the pupil admits to taking the indicated substance(s), the procedure then follows the School Rules

• If the pupil claims a false positive result, the result of the first test is kept confidential . The sample is sent to the local hospital for further testing for the drug(s) indicated . There are then two possibilities:

– If the result is negative, it is assumed that the first positive was false and the pupil is fully exonerated .

– If the result is positive, the procedure then follows the School Rules .

A pupil who does not provide a sample will be deemed to have refused to provide a sample and the sanction will be the same as for a positive test result .