http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/drugusing-students-need-to-stay-at-school-20110509-1eejv.html
Students expelled or suspended from schools are more at risk of taking drugs than those who remain within the school community, a leading drug awareness agency has warned.
The number of Queensland students expelled - either fully, or for short periods - for being found with drugs at school rose 35 per cent in 2010, from 502 to 682.
Drug Arm executive officer Dennis Young believed students should be at school in drug counselling sessions, rather than being sent home.
"Young people who drop out of school, either through poor academic achievement or poor bonding, usually have a higher illicit drug use than those who stay in school," he said.
"They are mixing with a much higher risk population and our organisation would be concerned with expelling young people for periods of time without it having some consequences."
Mr Young said sending young people home where they often faced no consequences, often was perceived as "a reward" by the students.
He said he was encouraged to hear Education Minister Cameron Dick talk about being cautious with expelling students for having drugs.
"I think it is good the Education Minister is talking about it and I think it is good that he is talking about giving more power to the principals," Mr Young said.
"My concern would be that he give the principals more resources to be able to broker in expert help and advice when they need it."
Mr Dick said the percentage of students involved in drugs - 682 cases from 486,000 state school students - was very low.
“In 2010, of the 485,798 students enrolled in Queensland state schools, only 144, or 0.03 per cent, were excluded for illicit substances.
“Some 339 students, or 0.07 per cent, received long suspensions of six days or more, and 199 students, or just 0.04 per cent, received short suspensions of one to five days.
“This means that 99.9 per cent of our students are doing the right thing."
Mr Dick said students who were suspended would not be excluded from the education system.
He said schools had different approaches to the drug problem.
"That might include a suspension, it might include support with the Department of Child Safety, or the Office of Child Safety within the Department of Communities, or it might involve counselling."
"Every case is going to be different, but I think we need to give the power to the principals who will know the full context of that and will then make the right decision."
Drugs in Queensland schools in 2010 (alphabetical order):
Aldridge State High School: 8 long-term suspensions, fewer than 5 exclusions;
Aspley State High School: 5 short-term suspensions, 5 long-term suspensions, 5 exclusions;
Brisbane Bayside State College: fewer than 5 short-term suspensions; 11 long-term suspensions;
Calamvale Community College: fewer than five short-term suspensions, 13 exclusions;
Capalaba State College: 6 long-term suspensions, fewer than 5 exclusions;
Centenary Heights State High School: fewer than 5 short-term suspensions, 10 longer suspensions; fewer than 5 exclusions;
Coolum State High: 12 short-term suspensions; fewer than 5 longer suspensions, fewer than 5 exclusions;
Elanora State High School: 5 short suspensions, fewer than 5 longer suspensions, fewer than 5 exclusions;
Forest Lake State High School: 5 short suspensions, fewer than 5 long suspensions, fewer than 5 exclusions;
Innisfail State College: 10 long suspensions
James Nash State High School, Gympie: 9 short-term suspensions, fewer than 5 long-term suspensions, fewer than 5 exclusions;
Kuranda State High School: 11 long suspensions;
Mackay North State High School: 14 long suspensions, 5 exclusions;
Mansfield State High School: 9 exclusions;
Park Ridge State High School: 6 short-term suspensions, 7 long-term suspensions, 5 exclusions;
Trinity Bay State High School: 5 short-term suspensions , 12 long-term suspensions, fewer than 5 exclusions.
Yeppoon State High School: fewer than 5 short-term suspensions, 11 long-term suspensions.
(Selected from School Disciplinary Absences 2008-10, Department of Education and Training.)
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