Drugs problem in my child's school should they make parents aware?

[Gettingannoyed7262]

My son goes to a school that requires exams to attend. It is not a private school but you do have to pay for certain things. We moved him from his inner city high school to this one as we hoped it would be a better environment, boy was I wrong. It is a highly sort after school, set in lovely countryside and is hugely over subscribed every year.
At his previous high school as far as I know kids just used vapes.
My son is very open with me and tells me everything so this is how I know what's going on.
Before i list the names of what is being taken, please excuse my naivity. I have no idea what they are and i will probably give them the wrong name.
Obviously there is vape use at this new school but son says they are not normal vapes, they contain majurana.
These are openly used on the school bus and in and around school when they get the chance.
They have something called Snus which i believe is a tobacco that you pack in your mouth. Kids are using this all the time, even in lessons.
The worst is something beginning with a T. This is a pill that is being taken in school. I forget it's name but we've looked it up and it's awful! It can cause hallucinations and psychosis.
A few months ago a girl had a psychotic episode within school and had to be taken away. This was caused by that drug.
I know the school are trying to deal with it. They lock all of the toilets. They have police and outside agencies coming in to give talks. And last week, they had police come in with sniffer dogs, lined all the kids up and had them searched.
Parents were not informed about this and have never been informed about any drug issues.
I am very concerned about this. There are kids on site during the day who are high on drugs . How can this be allowed to happen? I want to contact the principal but husband has told me to leave it and they are obviously trying to deal with it.
If we had known about these issues we wouldn't have sent our son there.

Schools won't say "this school has a drug problem" and they wouldn't say "children in this local community have a drug problem" - because this rhetoric won't solve the problem.

Speaking as a safeguarding lead in a socially deprived secondary, what you are describing is not unique or unusual.

Children won't be allowed to be on school site high or when using. It doesn't stop some from trying tho - this is the soft underbelly of communities.

It might just be that your son is more aware of drug use now he's older, rather than it being school-specific.

You don't need to tell school generic 'there's a drug problem' things. They'll know. But if you know specifics as they happen, it is very important you tell school straight away. For example of your son tells you "Katie is in maths and she's slurring her words", contact school in the moment straight away. But generally saying "kids use snus at your school" isn't helpful or useful.

Police initiatives like sniffer dogs and knife arches are not actually indicative of sn issue with drugs or knives. Police do this regularly as a deterant, for visibility and community interaction.

All secondary schools will have issues with smoking, vaping, bullying, drugs and under-age sex. If they tell you they don't then they are fibbing. It's how they deal with it that is the issue.

My very naice leafy super-selective boarding school in the 80s had all the above. As did every other school I knew. Didn't mean everyone indulged.

I would focus on YOUR child and what they are up to.

Another one who doesn’t think what you’re describing is unusual. At my grammar school in the 90s, many of the more affluent children were suspended for having cocaine on school grounds. It’s was generally widely known that the more well off kids had access to “better” drugs. I attended parties at no older than 14/15 where local drug dealers arrived to drop off whatever had been ordered by other people at the party. And this was a well thought of high performing school…
I think you’d be hard pressed to find a post primary school anywhere in the UK where drug use isn’t an issue among teens.

Thanks for the replies. OK I will sit back and let the school handle it and just focus on my son and making sure he understands the specifics.
I dont know the individual children, he does but wouldn't want to be a grass

Yes, I am afraid that this is the norm now. Make sure that he understands the risks, and maintain open conversations with him. At some point, matbe in years to come, the chances are that he will try something - high school, university, life in general. Provided that he can talk to you and knows he can come to you with worries, concerns etc., then if he is tempted he is more likely to be open about it. It may not be what you want to hear, but better than keeping secrets.

I am 67 years old and went to a good school. My friend died of a heroin overdose. It isn't a new issue, I am afraid. Drugs have been around in some form for a long time, and that isn't going to change by wishing it away.

That's all you can do really. I've worked in posh schools and very deprived schools. Drugs, sex and nefarious activities are problems across the country. Difference being posh kids can firstly afford more more drugs, secondly tend to be able to hide it a bit better! Parents would be absolutely aghast at some of the conversations I've heard between lovely, well-to-do Felicity and Rupert...

Your child, just like every other child, is going to surrounded by people making poor decisions all their life. You can only advise and hope they listen.

Drugs are an issue in all secondaries to some degree.

I wouldn't be too worried about 'snus' it's a nicotine pouch and does not contain tobacco or drugs. Unless they get it from abroad as it's illegal here with tobacco.