13-23 – ​Drug and Alcohol Policy

Cadet Administrative and Training Orders (CATOs)


Purpose

1. This order establishes the CF policy regarding drugs and alcohol applicable to cadets and staff members involved with cadet activities.

2. The basis of this policy is to ensure cadets and staff members are not under the influence of prohibited drugs and alcohol and therefore are able to maintain the health and safety of all individuals participating in cadet activities.

3. This CATO should be read in conjunction with the following references:

  1. QR&O Chapter 20 Canadian Forces Drug Control Program;
  2. QR&O Chapter 103 Article 103.30 Drunkenness;
  3. DAOD 5019-4 Remedial Measures;
  4. DAOD 5019-3 Canadian Forces Drug Control Program;
  5. DAOD 5019-7 Alcohol Misconduct;
  6. DAOD 2008-3 Issue and Crisis Management;
  7. CATO 12-26 Significant Incident Report;
  8. CATO 15-22 Conduct and Discipline – Cadets; and
  9. A-AD-005-DCP/AG-000 Canadian Forces Drug Control Program Manual.

Definitions

4. The following terms shall be used in this CATO:

“cadet”

a person of not less than twelve years of age but less than nineteen years of age who belongs to a cadet organization (Sea Cadets, Army Cadets, Air Cadets, or Junior Canadian Rangers) authorized by the Minister pursuant to the provisions of the National Defence Act (NDA). (cadet)

“Civilian Instructor (CI)”

a person who is employed as an instructor at a training establishment, and who is not a member of the CF. (Instructeur civil)

“civilian volunteer”

a person who provides services directly to or on behalf of DND and the CF, without compensation or any other thing of value in lieu of compensation in support of authorized cadet activities; who has completed a reliability screening and has been approved by the applicable League. (bénévole civil)

“prohibited drugs”

any drug being used for purposes other than those listed in paragraph 7. (drogues illégales)

“staff member”

all CF members, Civilian Instructors and any other civilians employed in support of cadets but does not include a Staff Cadet. (membre du personnel)

“training establishment”

a Sea Cadet Corps, an Army Cadet Corps, an Air Cadet Squadron, a regional training centre, or a Cadet Summer Training Centre (CSTC). (établissement d’instruction)

Policy Awareness

5. All staff members and cadets shall be made aware of this policy on an annual basis.

6. CSTC standing orders on drug and alcohol policy shall be brought to the attention of all staff and cadets in the joining instructions. Staff members and cadets shall be formally briefed at the start of each CSTC course.

Drug Policy

7. As per reference at para 3.a., no staff member or cadet shall use any drug unless:

  1. the individual is authorized to use the drug by a qualified medical or dental practitioner for the purposes of medical treatment or dental care; or
  2. the drug is contained in a non-prescription medication used by the individual in accordance with the instructions accompanying the medication.

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Application – Staff Members

8. Any suspected or alleged use of prohibited drugs by staff members shall be dealt with in the following manner:

  1. action shall be taken to remove the member from further immediate interaction with cadets;
  2. the suspected or alleged contravention shall be immediately reported to the training establishment CO;
  3. as soon as possible, the incident shall be reported to the RCSU CO, through the chain of command;
  4. administrative and/or disciplinary action shall be taken in accordance with refs at paras 3.c. and 3.d.;
  5. if a criminal or service offence is suspected or alleged to have been committed, the training establishment CO shall inform the Military Police or local civilian police as appropriate;
  6. action may be taken as follows:
    (1) if the staff member is a CF member, administrative or disciplinary action shall be initiated by the member’s chain of command, as per ref at para 3.d.,
    (2) if the staff member is a CI or civilian employee, one of the following shall occur:

    (a) an appropriate action determined by a collective agreement, or

    (b) the current employment shall be terminated in accordance with the contract, and

    (3) if the staff member is a civilian volunteer the training establishment CO is authorized to suspend all participation in cadet activities and terminate the volunteer agreement;
  7. the training establishment CO shall inform  the RCSU CO, through the chain of command of actions taken;
  8. the RCSU CO will advise the applicable League of the circumstances; and
  9. the RCSU CO shall immediately inform the applicable Region Commander and D Cdts & JCR by completing a Significant Incident Report in accordance with ref at para 3.g..

Application – Cadets

9. Any suspected or alleged use of prohibited drugs by a cadet at a training establishment or any cadet activity, shall be dealt with in the following manner:

  1. the suspected or alleged contravention shall immediately be reported to the training establishment CO;
  2. if there is evidence that a criminal offence has been committed, the training establishment CO shall inform the Military Police or local civilian police as appropriate;
  3. as soon as possible, the incident shall be reported to the RCSU CO, through the chain of command;
  4. administrative and/or disciplinary action in accordance with ref at para 3.h.; and
  5. the RCSU CO shall immediately inform the Region Commander and D Cdts & JCR by completing a Significant Incident Report in accordance with ref at para 3.g..

10. In all cases of cadet involvement with drugs, consideration must be given to the impact his/her participation in the Canadian Cadet Organizations (CCO) may have on other cadets. Cadets must be counselled on the inappropriateness of drug use.

Alcohol Policy

11. Staff members shall not introduce, possess or consume alcohol on a base, unit or element or in a building or area occupied by the Canadian Forces or utilized for a cadet activity, except:

  1. in a non-public property in which a general authority has been granted to possess or consume alcohol during specified hours (such as a mess); or
  2. in such other place and at such times approved by the RCSU CO.

12. Staff members shall not consume or be under the influence of alcohol while working with cadets.

13. Cadets shall not introduce, possess, serve, sell, consume or be under the influence of alcohol at any cadet activity.

Application – Staff Members

14. Staff members suspected or alleged to have introduced, possessed or consumed alcohol contrary to this order shall be dealt with in the following manner:

  1. action shall be taken to remove the staff member from further immediate interaction with cadets;
  2. the suspected or alleged contravention shall be immediately reported to the training establishment CO;
  3. as soon as possible, the incident shall be reported to the RCSU CO, through the chain of command;
  4. administrative and/or disciplinary action in accordance with refs at paras 3.c. and 3.e.; and
  5. further action may be taken as follows:
    (1) if the staff member is a CF member, administrative or disciplinary action shall be initiated by the member’s chain of command, as per ref at paras 3.b. and 3.e.,
    (2) if the staff member is a CI or civilian employee one of the following shall occur:

    (a) an appropriate action determined by a collective agreement, or

    (b) the current employment shall be terminated in accordance with the contract, or

    (3) if the staff member is a civilian volunteer the training establishment CO is authorized to suspend all participation in cadet activities and terminate the volunteer agreement,
  6. the training establishment CO shall inform the RCSU CO of actions taken;
  7. the RCSU CO will advise the applicable League of the circumstances; and
  8. the RCSU CO shall immediately inform the applicable Region Commander and D Cdts & JCR by completing a Significant Incident Report in accordance with ref at para 3.g..

Application – Cadets

15. Cadets suspected or alleged to have introduced, possessed or consumed alcohol contrary to this order shall be dealt with in the following manner:

  1. action shall be taken to remove the cadet from further immediate interaction with cadets;
  2. the suspected or alleged contravention shall immediately be reported to the training establishment CO;
  3. as soon as possible, the incident shall be reported to the RCSU CO, through the chain of command;
  4. administrative and / or disciplinary action in accordance with ref at para 3.h.; and
  5. the RCSU CO shall immediately inform the Region Commander and D Cdts & JCR by completing a Significant Incident Report in accordance with ref at para 3.g..

16. In all cases of cadet involvement with alcohol, consideration must be given to the impact his/her participation in the CCO may have on other cadets. Cadets must be counselled on the inappropriateness of alcohol use.

Social Events

17. Sentence removed in accordance with CANCDTGEN 005/23, Amendment to CATO 13-23, Drug and Alcohol Policy. The hosts and/or servers must be made aware that cadets are not permitted to consume alcohol. No staff member in attendance is permitted to consume alcohol while directly supervising cadets that are present at the activity. This does not include adults who are present but not directly responsible for the supervision of cadets.

18. In public places staff are to conduct themselves in a manner so as not to bring discredit upon the CF or the CCO including the appropriate and moderate consumption of alcohol.

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OPI: D Cdts 6
Date:  Nov 11

Amendment:  Ch 12/11

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