Substance Use in Schools Working Group minutes: December 2025

Attendees and apologies

• Health and Wellbeing Unit, Scottish Government (Chair)
• Alcohol and Harm Prevention Team, Scottish Government
• Curriculum Team, Scottish Government
• Drugs Policy Team, Scottish Government
• Health and Social Care Research Division, Scottish Government
• Association of Directors of Education (ADES)

 

Apologies

• Tobacco, Nicotine and Gambling Team, Scottish Government
• National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT)
• Education Scotland (ES)
• Education Institute for Scotland (EIS)
• COSLA

Items and actions

Welcome, introduction and apologies

The chair welcomed attendees and noted apologies.

Minutes and actions from previous meeting

The Chair provided an update on actions from the previous meeting, highlighting that the Terms of Reference had been amended and circulated to colleagues for final approval.

The chair noted the minutes from the previous meeting had been circulated for approval and invited comments from members. Members agreed they were content with the minutes and that these could be published on the Scottish Government website.

Actions: 

• SG to publish the minutes from the previous meeting on the SG website
• SG members confirmed they were content to sign off the Terms of Reference and agreed that these should be published on the SG website

Draft Guidance

The Chair provided an overview of the changes made to the draft guidance and invited feedback from members.

It was noted that Scottish Advisory Group on Relationships and Behaviour (SAGRABIS) will take place on 14 January 2026. Following today’s discussion, a near-final version of the guidance will be available, with the intention of seeking member clearance at the SAGRABIS meeting.

Key updates and feedback

Key changes focused on reducing repetition, particularly in sections relating to supporting wellbeing and managing incidents.

• the guidance has been strengthened around parental engagement
• the reference at the top of page 10 on professional learning around trauma-informed, non-stigmatising approaches has now been published. A link will be shared and added to the document
• some concern was raised about whether there is too much emphasis on certain areas and not enough on others. It was suggested that the purpose of the document could be made more explicit, particularly its intention to support schools in responding to substance use
• members suggested additional signposting may be helpful, with more emphasis on practical responses to substance use in schools

Implementation support

The Chair asked members how they would like the guidance to be promoted and the most effective ways to disseminate it. The following points were raised.

• members were happy to share the guidance with their networks
• it was noted that many policies already exist within schools, and this guidance should encourage schools to review and update their own policies accordingly
• members highlighted that schools may require additional support in relation to the prevention aspect of the guidance, particularly around vaping, which may be helpfully supported by case studies
• it was suggested that further prevention work, potentially involving or led by Public Health Scotland, may be required in future

Any other business

No other business was raised.

The chair thanked members for their contributions and closed the meeting.