University of Edinburgh Code of Practice on the Abuse of Drugs by Students

University of Edinburgh
      Code of Practice on the Abuse of Drugs by Students
1. Introduction
The University of Edinburgh is taking positive action in the form of a Code of Practice
designed to tackle actual and potential drug-related problems amongst its student
population. The University wishes to promote good health practices and maintain high
standards of conduct amongst its students, and it must be concerned where health or
behavioural problems impair the academic performance, personal safety, or living and
learning environment of members of its community. Drug abuse is recognised as a
cause of such impairment, both for those individuals who misuse them and for other
members of the community who may be affected by any short or long term behavioural
problems which result from abuse.
Drug abuse can be a criminal offence and may also constitute misconduct under the
University’s Code of Student Discipline. Drug-related problems can arise from the abuse
of illegal drugs; the abuse of controlled prescribed drugs or other prescription drugs
(when used by someone other than the person for whom they were prescribed); or from
the abuse of any other substance which can be dangerous when used inappropriately or
excessively.
This Code of Practice outlines the University’s position with regard to the abuse of drugs
by any member of the student body. It should be considered alongside the Code of
Practice on the Abuse of Alcohol by Students, which sets out the University’s position
with regard to the abuse of alcohol.

1.1 Aim
The University’s aim is to prevent drug-related problems through positive action. Where
problems nevertheless occur this Code of Practice should provide a framework within
which relevant staff who detect such problems can provide back-up support and act on
the problems to minimise any harm which might otherwise result. Where appropriate
such staff would also initiate disciplinary procedures.

2. Awareness
Organisations within the University which students can approach for help and advice
include: the University Health Service; Health and Safety Services; the Student
Counselling Service; Personal Tutors; Senior Tutors, Postgraduate Supervisors; Course
Organisers; Programme Directors and the Chaplaincy.

In addition, the University of Edinburgh Students’ Association's Advice Place provides a
specialist support service co-ordinated by students, which holds lists of external drug
use prevention agencies. A list of useful contacts is provided at the end of this
document.

3. Procedures regarding Abuse of Drugs
If it is to promote good health and conduct and satisfy its legal obligations, the University
cannot tolerate the abuse of drugs on its premises. It is an offence under the Misuse of
Drugs Act 1971 for a person knowingly to allow drugs to be used, kept or supplied on
his/her premises. It is also illegal under the Act to ignore such occurrences. In addition to
its own aims, therefore, the University is committed by law to forbid the possession, use
or supply of drugs on its premises and it has a duty to act if it finds out that such abuse
has been or is taking place.
The action which should be taken if students are discovered to be, or are suspected of,
using, keeping or supplying drugs is outlined below:

3.1 Suspicion of possession or use of any drugs on University Premises

Subject to paragraphs (3.2) and (3.3) below, if a member of staff becomes aware or
suspects that drugs have been used or kept for personal use on University premises, the
matter should be referred to a Personal Tutor, Senior Tutor, a Postgraduate Supervisor,
Programme Director or a member of the Accommodation Services’ Wardening staff or
Flats Managers to investigate. If appropriate after investigation, the student should be
given a written warning that he/she must not again use or keep drugs on University
premises.

If this warning is breached or ignored, or if the gravity of the offence is such that it
constitutes misconduct under the Code and Statement of Discipline, the student should
be referred to, and formally warned by, an Authorised Officer under the first stage of the
procedures of the Code of Student Discipline. Such a warning would be recorded
permanently on the student’s record.
http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/academic-
services/students/undergraduate/discipline

3.2 Evidence of possession, use or supply of any drugs, on or off University
premises

If a member of staff discovers a student in the act of misusing drugs, he/she shall refer
the matter directly to an Authorised Officer with a view to action being taken against the
student under the Code of Student Discipline:
 http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/academic-
services/students/undergraduate/discipline/code-discipline

Similarly, if a student is found to be involved in the supply of any drugs, this shall
immediately be reported to an Authorised Officer, who will report it to the secretary of the
Discipline Committee.

An Authorised Officer should also be notified directly in any circumstances where it is
believed that the student might do serious harm to him/herself or others. The student
should be informed that that action has been taken and should be interviewed by an
Authorised Officer as soon as practicable thereafter. The appropriate action, which could
be to suspend or expel the student, could then be taken in accordance with the Code of
Student Discipline: http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/academic-
services/students/undergraduate/discipline/code-discipline

3.3 Reporting to the Police

In addition to the action taken in (3.1) and (3.2) above, all cases of drug use, possession
and supply should be reported by the relevant member of staff to the secretary of the
Discipline Committee, who will be responsible for the University’s interaction with the
police.
http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/academic-
services/students/undergraduate/discipline/discipline-committee

3.4 Reporting of Drug Use by Students

From time to time, information on drug use, purchase, production, storage or sales of
drugs may come to the attention of a member of the University community. In such
circumstances that individual, whether student or staff, should be encouraged to report
this, anonymously if he/she wishes, giving as much information as possible to a member
of staff such as a Personal Tutor, Senior Tutor, Student Support Team, Postgraduate
Supervisor, Programme Director or Warden to enable the University to investigate the
matter.

4. Provision of support to students with drug-related problems

The University should encourage student access to internal and external services which
offer support to those with drug-related problems. The action to be taken when students
exhibit signs of drug abuse or come for support in relation to a drug-related problem is
outlined below:

4.1 Advice and referral for specialist support

Any member of staff who suspects a student may have a drug-related problem, or from
whom support is sought by a student with a drug-related problem, should seek to
discuss this informally with the student. If regular abuse or dependency is suspected, the
student should be encouraged to seek help voluntarily from the University Health
Service or his/her own GP, the Student Counselling Service or the Chaplaincy Centre.

The Edinburgh University Students’ Association’s Advice Place holds information on
external agencies. Should the assistance of specialist support from outside the
University be considered appropriate, the student may, but only with his/her consent, be
referred to an external agency, such as a drug use prevention team. (See list of useful
contacts at the end of this document.)

If the student continues to ignore the advice offered, or is not willing to seek help
voluntarily, the member of staff shall bring the matter to the attention of the Head of
College or his or her nominee who shall discuss the matter with the student. Except
where the problem is proving sufficiently disruptive to constitute a breach of the Code of
Discipline, the member of staff should take no further action unless directed to do so.

4.2 Sharing of Information

Where a member of staff is approached by a student seeking advice and support on
problems relating to drug use, discussions that are pastoral and supportive in nature
should be treated sensitively. The staff member should obtain the student’s consent to

pass on information to those who need to know in order for support to be provided, and
the matter should be discussed no more widely than is necessary to provide the student
with appropriate support.
Sharing of information on drug-related problems without the student’s consent should
only take place for reasons of health and safety, emergency or public policy – for
instance, in circumstances where it is believed that the student might do serious harm to
him/herself or others were the matter not raised elsewhere. If it is considered that the
situation justifies such action a person such as a Warden or Flats Manager in
Accommodation Services, a Personal Tutor, Student Support Team, a Postgraduate
Supervisor or an Authorised Officer may be alerted without the student’s consent. In
such circumstances, the student should be informed of the action taken.
Where a member of staff suspects drug abuse or that a student has breached or ignored
a written warning not to abuse drugs on University premises and initiates a discussion
on the matter with the student, such discussion would be disciplinary in nature and
would not normally require to remain confidential.
A student should be advised to consider seriously seeking help from one of the agencies
recommended and in particular from his/her family. The University should not inform a
student’s next of kin without his/her consent.

4.3 Academic Support

In appropriate circumstances, efforts should be made to ensure that a student
experiencing drug-related problems will be able to continue with his/her programme of
study. Where necessary, those providing advice may, with the permission of the student
concerned, notify an appropriate person - such as the Head of College or his or her
nominee, Head of School, Personal Tutor, Student Support Team, Postgraduate
Supervisor or Programme Director - that a student is undergoing personal problems
which might impact upon his/her academic performance. In such circumstances, the
Head of College or his or her nominee might, for example, be consulted about a possible
leave of absence (for undergraduate students) or suspension of studies (for
postgraduate students).

Students should be reminded of the requirement in the Assessment Regulations that
“Factors which may adversely affect a student’s performance in an examination or in
assessed coursework over the year, such as personal illness or the illness of a close
relative or partner, must be drawn to the attention of the Examiners in writing by the
student as soon as possible and, in any event, before the meeting of the Board of
Examiners.” Local procedures for notifying such special circumstances are usually set
out in programme handbooks, and are available through Personal Tutors, Student
Support Teams, Postgraduate Supervisors and Programme Directors.

4.4 Code of Student Discipline

A student suspected of drug abuse may be liable for disciplinary action under both the
criminal law and the University’s Code of Discipline.
http://www.docs.sasg.ed.ac.uk/AcademicServices/Discipline/CodeofDiscipline.pdf
The abuse of drugs is a criminal offence, and also constitutes misconduct under the
University’s Code of Student Discipline when the abuse takes place on University
premises or affects or concerns other members of the University community. The
University reserves the right to report abuse of drugs to the police.

Where a case of drug abuse is reported to the police, the student concerned may be
suspended or excluded from both membership of the University and occupation of its
premises under the Code of Student Discipline. However, no further University
Disciplinary action will be taken until any criminal prosecution has reached a conclusion
or a decision has been taken not to prosecute. Thereafter, action may be taken under
the Code of Student Discipline whatever the outcome of the police action. In such cases
the University will take whatever action it considers will most effectively discourage the
proliferation of drug abuse within the institution and will protect the student body as a
whole.
The University takes a particularly serious view of the abuse of drugs in cases where the
student is involved in the supply or production of drugs or in criminal behaviour linked to
the obtaining of drugs or money to purchase them.
The provisions of Accommodation Services’ Halls and Houses Regulations (available
from Accommodation Services) will also be particularly relevant to those students living
in University-owned accommodation.

5. Useful Contacts

5.1 Internal Services
      University Health Service, 6 Bristo Square (tel: 650 2777)
       http://www.ed.ac.uk/staff-students/staff/health-wellbeing/general-health/alcohol-
       drugs
      Student Counselling Service, The Main Library, George Square (tel: 650 4170)
      Chaplaincy Centre, 1 Bristo Square (tel: 650 2595)
      Health and Safety Department, Charles Stewart House, Chambers Street (tel:
       651 4255)
      Academic Services Section Old College, South Bridge
      Edinburgh University Students’ Association, 5/2 Bristo Square (tel: 650 2656)
      The Advice Place, Bristo Square (tel: 650 9225)
      The Advice Place, King’s Buildings (tel: 650 5822)
      The Advice Place, Paterson’s Land, Holyrood Road (tel: 651 6060)

5.2 External Agencies (see also for further external sources of advice)

      Drugline Scotland (tel: 0800 77 66 00).
       Crew 2000, 32 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh EH1 1PB. (tel: 220 3404); .
      Harm Reduction Team, The Exchange, Spittal Street Centre, 22-24 Spittal Street,
       Edinburgh EH3 9DU. (tel: 537 8300)
      Turning Point Leith, 3 Smith’s Place, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 8NT. (tel: 554 7516).
      Scottish Drugs Forum, 139 Morrison Street, Edinburgh EH3 8AJ. (tel: 221 9300).
      Community Drug Problem Service (CDPS), 22 Spittal Street, Edinburgh EH3. (tel:
       537 8345).
      Further information about these external agencies may be obtained from the
       Advice Place, Bristo Square (tel: 650 9225).
      Health Scotland: . This includes a section on HealthScotland’s drugs-related
       programme of work, with links to Drugs learning opportunities, research,
       publications and related websites.

Approved by the University Court, 31 May 1999 Amended to take account of
University restructuring, 1 August 2002

Links last reviewed: August 2012

Amended to take account of introduction of the Personal Tutor system, August 2012