WBHS Substance Abuse Policy

The bottom line on substance use at WBHS is that boys who seek help for a substance abuse problem will receive confidential and supportive assistance from the Counselling Department but any Wynberg boy found in possession of drugs or alcohol will face disciplinary measures from the Governing Body.

Please see the Drug and Alcohol school policy below:

WBHS DRUG AND ALCOHOL POLICY

The School accepts and acknowledges that a wide variety of addictive or habit-forming substances are readily available throughout society, and that our children are, and will continue to be, regularly exposed to such substances through various channels. 

The School recognizes that young people are particularly vulnerable to substance misuse and that substance misuse is directly detrimental to learners at all levels and in all ways (physically, mentally, psychologically, socially, developmentally, emotionally and personally).

The School:

1. accepts that it has a part to play in equipping young people with information and knowledge about drugs, alcohol and substance misuse generally,
2. acknowledges that society changes and adapts its mores and norms constantly, and that not all of society is necessarily as totally opposed to the possession and use of prohibited substances as is the School.
3. Nevertheless insists that parents participate in a strong partnership with the school to minimize the potential harm to learners which may be caused by addictive substances, and expects that every parent and learner should support a total prohibition on such substances.

Treatment, rehabilitation and prevention
Notwithstanding the School’s determination to work with parents to eradicate substance abuse, the school acknowledges the reality that not all learners will at all times achieve a healthy, drug-free life. Recognizing, therefore, that there are, and will be from time to time, learners who experiment with, or who have problems with, dependence-producing substances, in any instance where a learner approaches the school for assistance, the school will endeavour to provide such assistance, provided that the approach occurs before the learner is caught in possession of, or is the subject of an investigation concerning, prohibited substances of any nature. 

To this end, the school invites any learner with problems of this nature to communicate either with the Headmaster or any other member of staff whom he trusts. An experienced drug & alcohol counselor will be made available to those learners requiring help due to their substance use.

Where a learner is found to be in violation of the rules set out above relating to possession and/or use of prohibited substances, that learner should expect, particularly if he has made substances available to any other learner within the school, that the disciplinary committee of the Governing Body will be summoned and will be entitled to recommend any sanction provided for in the Code of Conduct or the SA Schools and related acts, up to and including the expulsion of the learner concerned.

When a learner has disclosed or been found to be affected by, in possession of, or having used prohibited substances, and he fails to comply with any rehabilitation programme to the satisfaction of the School, he should expect to appear before the disciplinary committee of the Governing Body.