Conservatives seek drug dog funding for youth education institutions

Campus Odsherred in Asnæs regularly brings in a drug detection dog to search for traces of drugs and opioids, DR reports. The Conservatives want youth education institutions to be able to apply for funding for similar measures.

Herman, a drug detection dog, ran through a classroom with his tail wagging and his tongue out. The students remained calm, having experienced the visits several times before.

“We do this so our students can feel that they are attending school safely without being offered opioids or drugs,” said Søren Aagesen Goth, rector of Campus Odsherred, which includes an upper-secondary school, vocational education programmes and a 10th grade.

Conservative justice spokesperson Mai Mercado attended the inspection. The party recently proposed at its summer group meeting that youth education institutions should be able to apply for funding for anti-drug measures, including recruiting drug detection dogs.

Mercado said she was impressed by the cooperation between Herman and his handler, as well as by the students’ reaction. They recognised the dog and wanted to pet it.

“It reinforces my view that this is something we should bring into the negotiations later this autumn,” Mercado said.

The Conservatives want five million kroner allocated to the initiative in 2027 through the SSA reserve, previously known as the Satspuljen.

Joint paper was the only find

During the three years that Campus Odsherred has used a drug detection dog, traces of drugs have been found once, on joint paper. The student immediately admitted it and entered substance abuse treatment.

Herman also visits the campus when parties are held. Students themselves asked for the dog to stand at the entrance to the events, according to the rector.

However, a survey by DR found that far from all youth education institutions in Zealand plan to use drug detection dogs.

“We do not feel that we need it at our upper-secondary school,” said Trine Fogh Lauridsen, rector of Kalundborg Gymnasium.

Næstved Gymnasium also has no plans to bring drug detection dogs into the school during teaching hours.

“There are limits to how much control we want to exercise over our students. As a starting point, we trust them, and using drug detection dogs would send the wrong signal,” said deputy rector Jon Hestbech.