Drug and Alcohol Abuse Program
The board recognizes that the abuse of alcohol, controlled substances or dangerous drugs and any other chemical substances is a societal problem that may impair the normal development, well-being and academic performance of students. It is the expectation of the school board that students, while on school property or attending school-related activities, shall abstain from possessing, distributing, selling, using or giving evidence of having used alcohol or other drugs. To ensure the safety, health and well-being of all students, the board is committed to the development of a community-based program which emphasizes prevention, intervention, aftercare support and necessary corrective actions.

The board recognizes the effects on the school, home and community resulting from drug and alcohol abuse. While the primary obligation to seek assistance rests with the student and his/her parent(s)/guardian(s), the school staff shall work with the parents/guardian(s) and the community to develop and implement a comprehensive district-wide drug/alcohol curriculum, assistance and support for students, and cooperation with out-of-school programs in conjunction with parents/guardians and community groups.

Prevention
The prevention program shall focus on classroom instruction, guidance services and the school climate.

Instruction
This dimension of the prevention program shall focus on:

• the effects of alcohol and drugs upon the body.
• skill development related to self esteem, goal-setting, decision making, conflict management, problem solving, refusal and communication.

Guidance Services
Staff shall meet with students to supplement drug and alcohol prevention, instruction, and skill development. Staff shall also assist parents/guardians to maximize the prevention efforts of the school.

School Climate
The school environment should help students to achieve in a productive manner (academically, socially and emotionally). The school shall strive to be a place where students, staff and parents/guardians:

• respect themselves and others
• do what they say they shall do
• contribute to high morals
• participate in the decisions that affect them
• feel that they are continuing to learn and grow
• value diversity and accept it as an opportunity for growth and development
• possess a "sense of belonging;",
• feel that they can make a difference to someone else

Intervention
The goal of the intervention program shall be to eliminate drug/alcohol use and abuse by students. Staff development shall be provided for faculty and staff. Important aspects of staff development training shall include dynamics of the addiction process; enabling behaviors; intervention techniques; children in chemically dependent families; student experimentation, abuse and dependency; parental/guardian involvement and community resources; and, prevention issues and strategies.

Staff roles for the intervention program are as follows:

• A core team which may consist of administrators, counselors, selected staff and nurse meet regularly for the purpose of identifying any student(s) who may be in need of assistance. Such staff members, who have received specialized training in alcohol and drug abuse dependency, shall be sensitive to identifying symptoms of drug and alcohol use/abuse.
• The Core Team shall review referrals; confer with students; collect data; make recommendations for services; and maintain a confidential system of record keeping. Parents/guardians of referred students shall be involved before any action is taken.

Aftercare/Support
Students returning to school from a community inpatient or outpatient treatment program shall be offered aftercare/support. Primary aftercare responsibility for students returning from a community treatment program rests with the student, parent/guardian and community treatment program personnel. School staff, the student, parent(s)/guardian(s) and community treatment personnel should work cooperatively to facilitate the aftercare plan.

The school shall encourage the formation of student assisted support groups and other education and/or prevention promotions that increase the awareness of the effects of alcohol and other drug use/abuse. These support groups shall assist students concerned about their own use of drugs/alcohol, students living in families suffering from drug/alcohol abuse or dependency, and students concerned about the drug/alcohol use of someone else.

Corrective Action
If a student appears at school or at a school-sponsored function demonstrating behavior which indicates that he/she may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol and/or admits that he/she is under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, the school will:

• notify the parents/guardians to encourage them to arrange for appropriate treatment
• request the assistance of an enforcement official in investigating the situation
• take appropriate school disciplinary action

If school authorities find a student in possession of illegal drugs or alcohol at school, the substance shall be confiscated and turned over to law-enforcement officials for investigation and disposal. Appropriate school disciplinary action shall be taken by a school administrator regardless of law-enforcement action.

If a school administrator has evidence that a student is attempting to sell or give illegal drugs or alcohol to other students or is encouraging others to become involved with drugs and alcohol, the incident shall be reported to law-enforcement officials for their investigation. Appropriate school disciplinary action shall be taken regardless of law-enforcement action. (Refer to discipline policy, JG, and district administrative policy.)

If a school administrator receives substantive information concerning the sale or use of illegal drugs or alcohol outside of school, the information shall be reported to law-enforcement officials for their investigation.

Adopted:
10/5/87

Revised:
2/16/88
5/7/90

LEGAL REF.:
RCW 28A.120.030 through 28A.120.050

CROSS REFS.:
Alcohol Use by Students (JFCH)