Safeguarding in Schools: What Every Teacher Needs to Know About Substance Misuse
Most teachers encounter substance misuse concerns before the DSL does. Knowing how to recognise it, what not to do, and when to act is a statutory expectation under KCSIE 2026. This plain-English guide covers everything a class teacher needs to know without requiring specialist training.
Photo: The Safeguard Hub, substance misuse and safeguarding in schools
One in five young people in England has been offered illegal drugs by age 15. [1] One in twelve will develop a problematic relationship with alcohol before they leave school. [2] Yet most teachers report feeling underprepared to recognise or respond to substance misuse concerns. Under KCSIE 2026 (Part 1) , every member of staff, regardless of role, has a duty to act on concerns about a pupil's welfare. This includes substance misuse.
Your Role as a Class Teacher: What You Are Expected to Do and What You Are Not
Your role IS to:
- Notice and record changes in behaviour, appearance, or mood
- Listen if a pupil makes a disclosure, and respond calmly
- Report concerns to the DSL the same day, without investigating
- Record using the child's exact words if they disclose
Your role is NOT to:
- Search a pupil for drugs (this is the DSL and headteacher's role under the 2022 guidance)
- Contact parents before speaking to the DSL. This could compromise a referral.
- Investigate the substance misuse or ask leading questions
- Promise confidentiality to a pupil who discloses
Physical Signs by Substance Type
| Substance | Observable Signs |
|---|---|
| Cannabis | Red eyes, slow reactions, increased appetite, smell of smoke, mood swings, paranoia |
| Alcohol | Smell of alcohol, slurred speech, unsteady gait, mood swings, arriving to school after lunch |
| Stimulants (cocaine, MDMA) | Hyperactivity, dilated pupils, teeth grinding, excessive confidence, sudden crashes |
| Nitrous oxide | Silver canisters or balloons; dizziness; brief disorientation in corridors or toilets |
| Opioids | Pinpoint pupils, drowsiness, nodding off, track marks (advanced cases), extreme mood changes |
The County Lines Connection
Substance misuse in young people is frequently a symptom of underlying risk or harm. Under KCSIE 2026 (Para 31) , schools must consider whether substance misuse may indicate child criminal exploitation. A pupil supplying drugs to others, or being rewarded with drugs, is a CCE indicator requiring immediate MASH referral, not a pastoral conversation alone.
Citations
[1] NHS Digital (2023). Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use Among Young People in England 2023. NHS.
[2] Alcohol Change UK (2023). Alcohol and Young People: The Statistics. Alcohol Change.
[3] DfE (2025). Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025. DfE.
[4] FRANK (2024). Drug Types and Effects. talktofrank.com.