What Can Your School Do About Possession of Drugs on School Grounds?

 

Youth drug abuse is not a new issue, but it is an ever-evolving one. While the use of usual suspects like alcohol and marijuana is actually dropping, the American Psychological Association reports that in 2024, more teens are overdosing than ever before. Substances like fentanyl and other opioids take the fore among students, creating a dangerous new landscape of youth drug abuse and underscoring the ongoing need for schools to curb the possession of drugs on school grounds.

As educators and administrators, the challenge of managing drugs on campus is not just a matter of discipline but of safety and education. Addressing this issue effectively requires a balanced approach that incorporates clear policies, preventive education, and a fair, consistent response to incidents.

What Qualifies as Drug Possession?

For legal and disciplinary purposes, drug possession on school grounds refers to any instance in which a student holds or stores illegal substances within the school environment. This can include having drugs in their locker, backpack, or even on their person. The legal implications of drug possession are severe, and for schools, the ability to respond decisively could change the entire trajectory of a young student’s life.

Responding to Drug Incidents on School Grounds

When a drug-related incident is discovered, the initial response should be swift and ensure the safety of all students. This typically involves securing the drugs and ensuring that the student does not pose an immediate threat to themselves or others. Confidentiality is crucial in these initial stages to maintain the dignity and privacy of the students involved.

Ideally, schools should already have drug policies in place to guide incident response and lay out a clear path to handle the situation as it evolves.

Developing Campus Drug Policies

Creating clear, comprehensive drug policies is essential for any educational institution. These policies should outline what constitutes drug possession and detail the consequences and procedures for handling incidents. Beyond that, these policies need to address a variety of circumstances, including:

1. Prevention and Education: Policies should outline preventive measures such as drug education programs that inform students about the dangers of drug use and the legal, social, and health consequences.
2. Counseling and Support Services: Include provisions for supporting students who might be struggling with substance abuse, such as access to counseling and referrals to external support services or rehabilitation programs.
3. Search and Seizure Protocols: Clearly define under what conditions searches for drugs may be conducted on school property. This includes who can perform searches, how they should be carried out, and the student’s rights during the process.
4. Response to Drug Discovery: Detail the steps to be taken if drugs are found on campus, including who should be notified (e.g., school administrators, parents, law enforcement) and how the situation should be documented.
5. Consequences for Violations: Outline disciplinary actions for drug possession or use on school grounds, ensuring that penalties are appropriate and proportional to the severity of the offense and that they comply with local, state, and federal laws.
6. Confidentiality: Ensure policies respect the privacy of students involved in drug-related incidents, consistent with legal requirements and in the best interests of the student and school community.
7. Staff Training: Include requirements for training staff to recognize signs of drug use on campus, understand the school's drug policies, and know how to respond to drug-related situations appropriately.

By covering these areas, campus drug policies can be a powerful tool in not only deterring drug use but also in managing it effectively and compassionately when it does occur. Note that transparency with these policies is key—they should be readily available and understood by students, parents, and staff.

Should Your School Use Drug Testing?

Implementing a new drug testing program at your school can be a contentious issue. While it can deter drug use and identify students in need of help, it also raises questions about the legality of school drug testing and concerns about privacy and trust between students and the institution. For best results, on-campus screening programs should prioritize reliable, trustworthy drug testing partners and be part of a broader substance abuse prevention program, integrated with counseling and rehabilitation services.

Taking Disciplinary Action – Dos and Don'ts

Discovering drugs on campus can be a fraught situation for all parties, but responses must be thoughtfully applied. When it comes to disciplinary actions, schools should aim to be:

• Consistent: Apply the same rules and consequences to all students to maintain fairness.
• Educative: Use disciplinary incidents as learning opportunities, not just punishments.
• Supportive: Offer resources for counseling and recovery, and involve parents and guardians in the process.

Disciplinary measures should focus on rehabilitation over punishment, seeking to reintegrate the student into the school community as safely and quickly as possible.

Should Schools Report Student Drug Possession to Law Enforcement?

Deciding whether to involve law enforcement in drug-related incidents can depend on several factors, including the nature and quantity of the drug, the circumstances of the possession, and local laws. In the US, schools are not required to notify law enforcement in 22 states, plus the District of Columbia. However, that leaves 28 states where notification is required — so be sure to check where your locality falls on the list.

Of course, this is only half the question. Where reporting is not legally required, schools must weigh the infraction against the student's welfare, considering whether police involvement is likely to benefit or harm the student's future.

Address Drugs at Your School with Support from Countrywide Testing

Combating drug possession on school grounds requires a multifaceted approach that balances enforcement with compassion. By establishing clear policies and handling incidents with care, educators can protect both their students' well-being and the school’s academic mission.

In many cases, your comprehensive response to drugs on campus may include drug testing. Implementing drug testing in schools is not just about detecting and punishing drug use — by carefully planning and implementing a drug testing program, schools can help safeguard their students' well-being while fostering an environment conducive to learning and development.

Best of all, implementing your school drug testing program doesn’t have to be difficult. Whether you’re interested in on-site testing or more intensive, lab-tested results, Countrywide Testing has drug testing services to suit your needs.

Countrywide offers various drug testing products for academic and workplace testing, healthcare emergencies, law enforcement purposes, and individuals trying to stay clean after rehab. Our on-site drug testing kits are convenient and affordable and ship to you quickly. Plus, our lab is accredited by SAMHSA, so you can rest assured that your test results are handled according to the highest industry standards.

Want more information on how Countrywide can support your school’s drug testing program? Just contact our team today.