CHEMICAL ABUSE POLICY

The teachers, coaches, administrators and the School Board are truly concerned with the “whole” person concept and his/her overall growth and development. Chemical dependency is recognized as a treatable disease which may interfere with the learning process, create severe interpersonal problems, and cause physical and emotional suffering to the user as well as to family and close associates. Substance abuse and addiction to tobacco products may permeate all facets of the community. Therefore, the school unit will assist students in need for appropriate diagnoses, and treat affected students. The Board unequivocally endorses the philosophy that the schools should be free from the detrimental effects of illicit drugs, alcohol and tobacco products.

In order to ensure the highest possible standards of learning, as well as the safety, health, and well-being of students, the School Board endorses a chemical abuse policy which will aid students to abstain from the use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco products. The policy will also provide for early intervention when use is detected, corrective disciplinary sanctions when necessary, and aftercare support as appropriate. Compliance with the school unit’s standards of conduct related to chemical abuse is mandatory.

Prevention

The school unit provides students with information and activities focused on prevention of the use of prohibited substances like alcohol, and tobacco products. Programs are provided that teach students that using illicit drugs, alcohol and tobacco is wrong and harmful. The legal, social, and health consequences of drug, alcohol and tobacco misuse are addressed. Students are taught how to resist peer pressure.

Intervention

The school system will establish and provide assistance, through a team approach, to intervene with students who are chemically involved. Students are to be assisted in addressing their harmful involvements with chemicals and in continuing in their educational programs. Moreover, information and referral shall be provided, as appropriate, to aid involved students in connecting with community agencies for drug, alcohol and tobacco use treatment.

Rules and Sanctions

No student shall distribute, dispense, possess, use or be under the influence of any alcoholic beverages, or tobacco products. Nor shall a student unlawfully manufacture, distribute, dispense, possess, use or be under the influence of any narcotic drug, hallucinogenic drug, amphetamine, barbiturate, marijuana, anabolic steroid or any other controlled substance (as defined in schedules I through V of section 202 of the federal Controlled Substances Act [21 U.S.C., section 812]; by regulation of 21 C.F.R., 1300.11 through 1300.15; and in Maine’s title 17-A MRSA, section 1101) or inappropriate use of non-controlled substances (i.e., glue, inhalants, etc.) or any look a like drug, before, during and after school hours, at school or in any other school system location, defined as follows:

“School system location” means in any school building or on any school premises, in any school-owned vehicle or in any other school-approved vehicle used to transport students to and from school or school activities; off school property at any school-sponsored or school-approved activity, event, or function, where students are under the jurisdiction of the school system.

A student who violates the terms of this policy will be disciplined, including suspension or expulsion from school, at the appropriate discretion of the administration and the Board, and in accordance with sanctions detailed in school unit regulations. A student will be referred to law enforcement authorities for investigation and/or prosecution.

In addition, a student who violates the terms of this policy shall be given the opportunity to receive intervention services as described above. Failure to cooperate shall result in full imposition of additional disciplinary sanctions. School staff shall maintain close cooperation with public medical, legal and law enforcement agencies, as well as parents, in the prevention and rehabilitation of drug abuse, and tobacco addiction. (See following pages)

The Superintendent shall be responsible for the development and promulgation of appropriate curricula, programs, and regulations to implement this policy.

This policy and appropriate related information are to be distributed to students and parents through means selected by the administration.

The Superintendent is to oversee a biennial review of the policy and regulations to determine the programs’ effectiveness, to implement changes to programs, policy and regulations, as needed, and to ensure that disciplinary sanctions are consistently enforced.