Statistics and studies show that drug use by students is a serious concern for schools and their communities. The Drug Foundation reports problems with substances start early – half of all New Zealanders with a substance dependence issue were already dependent by the time they were 19. Young people who use substances more than their peers are likely to have high rates of absenteeism from school and may be early school leavers.
In 2014 the Ministry of Education published the guiding principles around the surrender and retention of property and searches. The guiding principles outline the requirement for schools to provide a safe physical and emotional environment for students and staff, that parents, students and the public can expect the school environment to be free from drugs and that they act in the least intrusive manner to provide a safe environment.
The NZ Detector Dog teams have years of experience partnering with schools and their communities to help achieve successful outcomes.