SIA Door Drug Awareness 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a 'drugs policy' for a licensed venue?
- A policy encouraging drug use
- A documented set of procedures for preventing drug use, searching, seizure, storage, and police liaison (Correct answer)
- A medical policy for prescribing medication
- A policy for selling energy drinks
Correct answer: A documented set of procedures for preventing drug use, searching, seizure, storage, and police liaison
A drugs policy sets out the venue's approach to preventing drug use, including search procedures, how seized drugs are handled and stored, staff training, police liaison, and signage. It is a key document for due diligence.
Question 2: What are the signs that someone may have taken an opiate drug such as heroin?
- Dilated pupils and hyperactivity
- Constricted (pinpoint) pupils, drowsiness, slow breathing, and slurred speech (Correct answer)
- Red eyes and excessive hunger
- Wide eyes and talkativeness
Correct answer: Constricted (pinpoint) pupils, drowsiness, slow breathing, and slurred speech
Opiates cause constricted pupils, drowsiness or 'nodding off', slow and shallow breathing, slurred speech, and a relaxed or euphoric state. In overdose, breathing can stop entirely.
Question 3: What is 'NPS' in the context of drug awareness?
- National Police Service
- Novel Psychoactive Substances — previously known as 'legal highs' (Correct answer)
- Non-Prescription Supplements
- Night Patrol Schedule
Correct answer: Novel Psychoactive Substances — previously known as 'legal highs'
Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) are synthetic drugs designed to mimic the effects of illegal drugs. Previously called 'legal highs', they were banned by the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016.
Question 4: Under what circumstances can a door supervisor legally search a person for drugs?
- At any time they choose
- Only with the person's consent as a condition of entry to the premises (Correct answer)
- Only with a police warrant
- Only if the person is under 18
Correct answer: Only with the person's consent as a condition of entry to the premises
Door supervisors can only search people with their consent, typically as a condition of entry. If a person refuses to be searched, they can be refused entry but cannot be forcibly searched — only the police have that power.
Question 5: What should a door supervisor do if they suspect a customer is suffering a drug overdose?
- Remove them from the venue and leave them outside
- Call 999 immediately, place them in the recovery position if unconscious but breathing, and monitor their condition (Correct answer)
- Give them coffee to sober up
- Ignore it — it's not the venue's responsibility
Correct answer: Call 999 immediately, place them in the recovery position if unconscious but breathing, and monitor their condition
A suspected drug overdose is a medical emergency. Call 999 immediately, place the casualty in the recovery position if unconscious but breathing, monitor breathing, be prepared to perform CPR, and tell paramedics what substance may have been taken if known.
Question 6: What is the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016?
- An Act legalising cannabis
- An Act making it an offence to produce, supply, or offer to supply any psychoactive substance intended for human consumption (Correct answer)
- An Act regulating alcohol sales
- An Act governing prescription medication
Correct answer: An Act making it an offence to produce, supply, or offer to supply any psychoactive substance intended for human consumption
The Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 made it an offence to produce, supply, or offer to supply any psychoactive substance (with exemptions for alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, and medicines). It replaced the previous patchwork approach to 'legal highs'.
SIA Door Drug Awareness 2
What is a 'drugs policy' for a licensed venue?