Plan of measures in the case of problems with alcohol or other drugs among the students attending the University

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In case problems with alcohol or other drugs appear, it is of great importance that these problems are handled quickly. A good work environment requires a University free of alcohol and narcotics.
It is not, under any circumstances, allowed for students or staff at the University to be under the influence of any drug during the working hours.

Plan of action
1.Preventive actions; the purpose of these actions is to prevent or counteract the origin of damages caused by alcohol or other drugs. The student union, together with the student healthcare, are obliged to see to it that those responsible of alcohol during the semester are continuously trained in responsible handling of alcohol and the laws concerning the serving of alcoholic beverages. Those concerned by this are those responsible of the student pub, those handling the purchase and serving of alcohol in the different student associations and the student mentors.
2. Early actions; these actions are directed at groups or individuals that are in specific danger. The actions serve to prevent or interrupt a risky behaviour when it is possible that it will in turn lead further in the using of illegal substances.
 
Acute/Immediate actions
In case a student is under the influence of drugs during the working hours he or she will be asked to leave the University premises. If the student denies to the accusations, the appraisal of the Head of the University Department has a decisive influence on the outcome. The concerned individual should then be, in a safe way, escorted to where he or she lives. Conversations, occurrences, point of time and decisions shall always be thoroughly documented. It is very important to tell the one sent home that he or she is expected to come back the following day to participate in a personal session where the matter is discussed. The purpose of this session is to conclude if what happened is an isolated event or if it is a sign of abuse.
The Student Union wants the Student Healthcare always to:
- Bring up the issue of consumption of alcohol during appointments at the reception.
- Be a resource for the staff and the student union, and to be the natural body to which a proposed measure is referred for consideration in matters where a student is suspected of having problems with abuse.
- Offer supportive sessions to students consuming at different levels.
- Help the student further, where appropriate, to the authorities in society dealing with abuse.
 
3. Care and treatment; students with need of support in these issues shall have the opportunity of individual help.
The earlier an individual with a problem of abuse is identified and gets treatment and rehabilitation, the bigger the possiblities that the individual will get through the crisis and get rid of the problem. Therefore the Student Union and the University have banned the let-go attitude that leaves individuals with problems of abuse without possibilities of getting back to a normal life. That someone close to the student intervenes and engages him or her in a serious conversation on the matter should always be regarded as an important first step.
Guidelines for personal sessions
If any suspicion exists of a student abusing alcohol or narcotics, this should always be regarded as reason for a personal session. Fear of or unwillingness to interfere may easily cause the problem to grow since time is always an issue in cases with drugs. The situation may then, logically, come to grow worse with time. The importance of following your feeling, intervening with the personal affairs of the student and to talk of what your suspicions are, can never be emphasized enough. You always have to have the courage to show that you care.
 
Straight forward communication on the problem
When discussing the problem it is of great importance for the person initiating the intervention to stick to the documented facts that actually exists in the case and to the problems that has occasioned it – in short to be very straight forward in what is being communicated. Since abuse is often an illness of denial as well as a broken body it is not unlikely that the confronted individual will react utterly defensive. When carrying out a conversation like this it is of great importance to make the individual realise that the addiction is something concerning not only his or her situation but also everyone that comes in contact with them – the friends and family. He or she needs to realise that the circumstances are unacceptable, and that the friends demand something to be done about it.
How to behave during the confronting
A person suffering from problems with alcohol or other drugs often have a bad self confidence. As this means that they are vulnerable and fragile your tone should be firm but respectful. From experience we know that conversations and warnings directly delivered to the individual in question – the punishing way of making the individual aware of his or her problem – may lead to repression of the problem or a blocking of the reality that the abuse constitutes. These effects may even occur already during the conversation in which the concerned individual is confronted with the problem for the first time. If the first conversation takes place between two students, the issue of the effects of continued abuse should be avoided. It is of great importance that serious measures taken – controls, restrictions, disciplinary measures and so forth – is initiated by higher authority and/or the staff at the student healthcare.
 
Deciding on the next step
It is also of great importance to ponder over a few alternative plans of action in advance. For instance you may, in advance, contact the Student Healthcare and ask for a suitable line of action. In case you do, you should always book a new appointment at your first visit and come back when you have decided on how to go on with the matter.