Orkney students value “personalised” drugs messaging shared across schools

A series of educational and information drugs misuse sessions got underway in Orkney schools this week – with a frontline police officer delivering a sobering message of the potential dangers.

Pupils, parents and staff listened as the stark reality was outlined by Police Scotland Sergeant Simon Hay who has witnessed first-hand the destruction that can be caused by drug misuse.

“I am Simon, the person, who just happens to be a police officer. I have held the hand of a young person dying from a drugs overdose. I have delivered the devastating news to parents. These are not faceless people….this could be any one of you. Can you imagine the reaction telling someone their child has died from a drugs overdose? Sometimes they are angry at me, sometimes they fall to the ground. I try not to take the dark part of my work home with me – but it’s hard.

“There are consequences to taking drugs. You need to understand the ramifications. What is really important to me is you guys making the right choices. Addiction leads to you forgetting who you are or what you stand for; what’s right and wrong. One poor choice, one mistake can lead to you being branded a ‘druggie’ and Orkney is a small place where that can impact on you for a long time.”

Sgt Hay acknowledged that there are a range of drugs circulating in Orkney, from so-called “legal highs” to class A drugs such as heroin and cocaine, and without the help of the public in providing information, he said to some extent their hands were tied.

“We need the information as part of our intelligence gathering. We have powers as police officers, but we have to have reasonable grounds before we search a property, for example, and for that we need the information to back it up. That is where all of you come in. If you don’t want to tell us, tell a teacher, tell a parent, or get in touch anonymously via the Crimestoppers line – 0800 555 111. This is about working together as a community.”

The sessions are being rolled out in Orkney schools and the Papdale Halls of Residence this week following a recent incident at the Halls, which led to a young person being referred to the Children’s Reporter for an alleged drugs-related offence.

The Council’s Education Service called on Police Scotland and the Orkney Drugs Dog charity to assist in providing informative and preventative educational talks for pupils, staff and parents to back up the schools’ Health and Wellbeing programme delivered throughout the year.

Sgt Hay, alongside the Orkney Drugs Dog charity drug detection dog handler Kevin Moar and detection dog Zoe, kicked off the sessions at Kirkwall Grammar School on Tuesday.

Sgt Hay continued: “Unfortunately, drugs are not new to Orkney, but it seems to me it has become easier to access drugs, particularly now we have avenues such as the internet. You can go online, make your purchase and it is posted to you. Hopefully, that is intercepted and that is where Kevin and Zoe can come in.”

That sentiment was backed up by a small group of students at KGS who shared after the session that they had all at one time or another been offered drugs, so it would appear there are sources out there. Asked of the types that seem more readily available in the county, they pointed to cannabis and cocaine. Somewhat positively, they all agreed that they had felt strong enough not to bow down to any kind of pressure and were able to refuse any offer.

The students said the Papdale Halls incident had shocked them – the scale and police involvement and the fact some had required hospitalisation.

One said: “When I heard about the recent incident it was a shock – that sort of thing never happened when I was younger but also the scale of the incident and the police being involved. A lot of what has been said here is really hard hitting but that is what everyone needs to hear.”

Another pupil said: “This is a really effective way to educate young people and make us aware about the drugs in Orkney and how to report it. He made it more personal rather than generic.”

The aim of the permanent presence of drugs detection dog handler, Kevin Moar, and Zoe is to contribute to a reduction in the supply and distribution of illegal drugs entering the county.

Kevin said: “We will work in partnership to increase public knowledge and to educate the community as to the extent of drug misuse, its damaging effects on individuals, families, society in general and the economy. Zoe is trained with the ability to detect a wide range of illegal drugs. We use techniques such as search/scan both people and places as well as intrusive warrant searches in partnership with Police Scotland.”

KGS Head Teacher Claire Meakin said: “It has been such an important event here today delivering a really strong message of everyone working together. We all have responsibilities when it comes to ensuring our children and young people are equipped to make the right choices.”

The sessions were held at other senior schools including Stromness Academy, Westray, Stronsay and Sanday Junior Highs and the Papdale Halls.

OIC Executive Director of Education, Housing and Leisure, James Wylie, said: “This multi-agency commitment to working together will make a difference. These sessions were arranged and delivered swiftly to get this really important messaging out there while there remains a concern in the community. We want our young people to stop and think, we want for them to go away with the knowledge that drugs can and do cut lives short – that is the stark reality.”

Support is available and we would encourage parents to keep talking with their children. Some helpful websites include:

• www.talktofrank.com  
• www.knowthescore.info 
• www.nhsinform.scot