FOI Request - Controlled Substances

Request 101003930656

1. For each individual academic year from 2019/20 to 2023/24, please provide the total number of recorded incidents involving pupils under 18 on school premises within your authority that were categorised as involving the
a) possession of controlled drugs/substances
b) use of controlled drugs/substances
c) supply of controlled drugs/substances

If you do not hold the requested data as far back as 2019/20, please provide the data for as many academic years as possible between this time period. Similarly, if you already hold the completed data for the year 2024/25 then please also include that.

Response 26-02-2026

1. The information requested is not held at the level of detail requested. Information that is not held falls under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Information not held. 

Only the number of incidents for 'substance misuse - non-alcohol' is recorded, but no detail regarding a) possession, b) use or c) supply. Please see below:

2019/20 - <5*
2020/21 - 6
2021/22 - 13
2022/23 - 8
2023/24 - 6

*The low numbers associated with this response (between 1 and 5) may result in the identification of individuals. This response is therefore exempt under Section 38(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - personal information.

Any further details would be in each individual pupil file; we would have to read though thousands of incident report forms to get this information. This task would cost the Council in excess of £600 of staff time. In accordance with section 12 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (excessive cost), we are therefore unable to comply with this part of the request.