South Australian Department of Education and Children’s Services (SADECS) submission re the National Drug Strategy Consultation Report

The role of schools in contributing to the prevention and reduction of alcohol and other drug-related harm is recognised through the National School Drug Education Strategy (NSDES) as a sub-strategy of the National Drug Strategy (NDS). The current phase 2004-09 (to which NSDES funding to SADECS applies) is in its final year of implementation.SADECS values the NDS and the NSDES in contributing to endeavours that aim to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals; families; and communities.

In the foreword to the National Drug Strategy Consultation Paper, the following points of particular relevance to the role of SADECS are made:

  • Evaluation has demonstrated the sound nature and success of the current approach to addressing drug issues.
  • Research has shown that demand for drugs can be reduced through effective strategies that focus on prevention and include education and early intervention. Efforts in prevention need to be appropriate to the interventions and responses needed across the life cycle, with a particular focus on early intervention and the role that schools and other sectors can play in developing resilience and the right protective factors.
  • Teachers are acknowledged among people who come into contact with AOD issues as part of their role, and who require support to build their capacity to address and manage issues.

In the National Drug Strategy 2010-15, it is critical that the role of schools in contributing to the prevention and reduction of drug-related harm continues to be explicitly supported through a National School Drug Education Strategy and by associated funding that ensures that government and non-government schooling sectors can continue their excellent work.

The SADECS Drug Strategy contributes to the development of positive school cultures that promote resilience and delay the onset; severity; and duration of problematic substance use as well as bullying; violence; and mental health problems. This involves a whole school approach across four domains of practice: school environment; policy and procedures; partnerships and curriculum. This approach is consistent with the national Principles for School Drug Education (DEST, 2004) that provide a broad conceptual tool to inform the planning, implementation and review of school drug education programs, policies and practices.

A range of SADECS and cross-sector resources and initiatives support schools and teachers to develop good practice in relation to alcohol and other drug education involving students, parents and the wider community. For example, the SADECS Drug Strategy produces and sources a range of teaching and learning resources to assist teachers and others to support young people’s development of personal skills and strategies to minimise the risk of drug-related harm. Many of these resources have been developed or funded through the NSDES, and include those that assist staff in schools to support young people with drug-related issues and/or who live in environments affected by drug use: this support often involves collaboration with and referral to health professionals and drug and alcohol services. NSDESfunding for professional learning associated with these resources and programs has been essential to building workforce skills and capacity.

  • Australia’s National Drug Strategy is highly regarded internationally for its cross sectoral and cross jurisdictional collaboration and coordination: in our increasingly complex policy environment it will be important to strengthen and extend these partnerships to ensure the continued success of the Strategy.

SADECS and the South Australian non-government schooling sector have a strong and successful history of cross-sector collaboration and are currently represented on a number of cross-agency state and national bodies. These partnerships and networks are key to strengthening capacity; focussing resources; and promoting a coherent approach. The South Australian Drug Strategy and the South Australian Alcohol Action Plan supports collaboration across government and sectors.

  • There are reduced levels of alcohol and other drug use but greater levels of harm being experienced by Australians.New patterns of drug use and new issues continue to emerge.

The SADECS Drug Strategy works collaboratively with teachers; researchers; and the health and law enforcement sectors to inquire into and respond to these trends. The South Australian Police Illicit Drug Diversion Initiative and the National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction’s study on the role of schools in addressing the issue of youth binge drinking exemplifies this approach.

  • For young Indigenous Australians, addressing alcohol and drug misuse plays a significant role in “closing the gap” in disparities in life expectancy and health.

Schools, as agents of change, play an important role in building effective partnerships between the school; parents; the community; and other agencies.Commonwealth funding for the Indigenous, Rural and RemoteInitiative as a component of the NSDES has helped achieve successful outcomesdescribedinthe reports and school stories found at

What do you think top priorities for action should be during the next five years?

From a school drug education perspective:

  • Continue to focus on changing the Australian culture around alcohol use
  • Achieve more balance between universal preventative strategies; early intervention; and treatment. Increased recognition of the role of school drug education; parents; and school communities (of young people, educators, parents and partnering agencies) in this balance.
  • Support schools as agents of change: engaging parents in local, school – community based initiatives addressing alcohol and other drug related issues
  • Provide ongoing support and funding for the NSDES to

-enable provision of universal drug education

-promote good practice in drug education

-focus on prevention and early intervention approachesand the development of self help skills

- provide a forum to ensure discussion; sharing and development of programs; approaches; and resources which ensure consistency(e.g. a harm minimisation framework, national Principles for school drug education) across jurisdictions and between the Australian Government and the schooling

sector

- develop new national, evidence based resources which are provided free of

charge to teachers and schools.

  • Increase collaborationbetween sectors; states and territories; government and non-government agencies
  • Further engage young people in planning and implementation of the NDS through

-the NSDES

-valuing peer leadership and peer education; and

-recognition of the need to build knowledge and skills for wellbeing and resilience in all young people.

Emerging issues and new developments

How can structures and processes under the NDS more effectively engage with sectors outside health; law enforcement; and education?

Which sectors will be particularly important for the National Drug Strategy to engage with?

A formal structure involving establishment of senior officers’ groups in each jurisdiction would support engagement across sectors. Representatives from relevant government and non-government agencies could oversee NDS implementation and play an advisory and advocacy role through their executive officers to state and federal ministers, and collaborate and consult with colleagues in other states and territories addressing issues of mutual concern.

Outside health, law and education, the WHO draft global strategy (December 2009) to reduce harmful use of alcohol lists other sectors as: transport, social welfare, fiscal policy, trade, agriculture, consumer policy, employment.

The non-government sector (highly active in drug education; street work; care and treatment and partly government funded) needs to be represented at a local and national level. Promotion of evidence-based approaches and closer monitoring of practices would assist in achieving a more consistent and complementary government and non-government approach.

Where should efforts be focused in reducing substance use and associated harms in Indigenous communities?

Local, community based approaches involving young people; parents; agencies and community: there needs to be a focus on prevention through educative and health oriented initiatives that promote protective factors for wellbeing and build relationships; resilience; and community capacity. Children and young people need to be engaged in learning and issues of poverty and health addressed.

What are the particular opportunities and challenges that technology development is likely to pose for the community and the alcohol and drug sector over the next five years?

Challenges:

  • Increased access to pharmaceuticals, especially for young people, leading to increased use and - seen as ‘safer’ alternatives.
  • Data is not collected from young people in Australian Secondary School Alcohol and Drug Survey (ASSADS).

Opportunities:

  • To work globally and nationally to address and impact on the issue- eg through WHO
  • To collect Australian data around misuse to provide an evidence base
  • Through the National School Drug Education sub-strategy, to provide (revised) school drug education curriculum based on evidence and evaluation of effectiveness of school drug policies around safe use of pharmaceuticals
  • To use an increasing range of technologies to deliver appropriate harm minimisation messages to engage young people.

Where should efforts be focused in reducing substance use and associated harms among vulnerable populations?

Local, school and community based approaches involving young people; parents; agencies and community. Engaging parents is critical and schools can play a significant role here.

Targeted initiatives in schools in lower socio-economic areas; supportfor cross agency and sector partnerships which increase support to vulnerable groups at risk of drug-related harmssuch as young people affected by their own or others’ drug useand Indigenous young people.Examples: MAKINGtheLINK, (Orygen Youth Health, Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, in collaboration with the National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre, University of New South Wales); Keeping in Touch, (NSDES)