The responsible use of substances was at the top of Stellenbosch University’s (SU) list of priorities when a draft policy on substance use on campus was opened for consultation on 18 May.
This was according to Dr Munita Dunn-Coetzee, director of the Centre for Student Counselling and Development (CSCD) at SU, and convenor for the policy. The draft policy centres around the management of substance use on campus. It will be an updated version of the alcohol policy that SU implemented in January 2020, said Dunn-Coetzee.
“The draft policy is still in the consultation phase, and will then be adjusted,” said Dunn-Coetzee in email correspondence with MatieMedia. She added that the policy is unlikely to be approved by the SU Council before the end of this year.
An update on the alcohol policy
The current alcohol policy prohibits the sale and consumption of alcohol on campus. Dunn-Coetzee said that the alcohol policy was outdated and had to be renewed.
Given legislation indicating that institutions need to have guidelines on smoking, a decision was made to, “for practical reasons, combine alcohol, other substances and smoking in one policy”, she told MatieMedia.
The new draft policy also includes suggested regulation of prescription and non-prescription medications on campus.
“This policy aims to help those affected by smoking and substance use by detailing campus structures and procedures for assistance,” stated section 6 of the new draft policy, “Through the implementation of this policy, SU aims to create ongoing awareness of the harmful effects of smoking and substance use.”
The draft policy was initially opened to SU students and staff members for consultation until 31 May, according to an email notification sent to all members of the SU community by Dunn-Coetzee on 18 May. In a follow up email on 28 May, Dunn-Coetzee invited students and staff to comment on the draft policy in a webinar that will be hosted by the university on 9 June.
“It [was] evident that there needs to be a better understanding on our campuses of what responsible behaviour regarding alcohol usage entails,” said Dunn-Coetzee.
Practical management measures
Practical measures will be put in place to “enhance responsible behaviour around substance use”, said Dunn-Coetzee.
Currently, rules are in place in residences regarding the use of alcohol. “Conversations are currently ongoing with the Centre for Student Communities to ensure that the policy and the rules speak to one another,” said Dunn-Coetzee.
According to section 7 of the new draft policy “evidence-based prevention programmes should be encouraged to promote healthy and responsible behaviour”. Students and staff suspected of substance use may undergo assessments, said Dunn-Coetzee.
Dunn-Coetzee explained that assessments of the level of dependence on substances would be voluntary. However, where the level of dependence on a substance holds a threat to the health or safety of the individual, or of others, involuntary assessments would be required.
Following assessments, “a rehabilitation programme will be found, suited for [their] specific needs”, explained Dunn-Coetzee.
SU support structures, such as Campus Health and the CSCD, will facilitate the assessment process, and assist the individual with reintegration into their community, said Dunn-Coetzee.
“Using potentially harmful substances doesn’t only affect the user, but also the environment and the people around them in various ways,” said Dr Craig Thompson, director of medical services at Campus Health.
The use of substances takes on multiple forms, according to Thompson. By creating this draft policy and addressing substance use on campus, SU has clearly defined the conditions under which the well-being of students can thrive, he added.
The responses of SU students to the draft policy
The members of the Student Representative Council (SRC) are going to submit their full feedback to the CSCD after finalising their deliberations on the draft policy, according to Kira Alberts, vice chairperson of the SRC.
“We also encourage students to engage with the policy at the consultation webinar surrounding the policy on 9 June,” said Alberts in a written response to MatieMedia.
Coenraad de Beer, an honours student in bioinformatics and computational biology, said that avoiding substance use is particularly important for students and staff working with practical equipment, as they do in the science faculty.
“It’s good to see that the university is trying to look out for the well-being of students on a deeper level,” said De Beer.
Some students remain unconvinced of the need for such a policy. “The intention is good, but perhaps SU could spend more of its energy on something else,” said Caragh Groeneveld, an honours student in accounting at SU. She suggested that SU could focus more on policies that protect students from harassment or gender-based violence.
