Policy 6142.81 - Substance Abuse Prevention

Student Substance Abuse Prevention

Lodi Unified School District recognizes that substance abuse has the capacity to destroy the fabric of student lives; it recognizes also that substance abuse is a problem of our society which adversely affects the student’s ability to achieve according to his/her highest potential. The individual student’s health as well as academic and personal success is threatened when he/she engages in substance abuse. Students are also hindered when substance abuse is experienced in the family or when confronted with it in the community or schools.

The District recognizes that the causes of substance abuse are complex but that the following factors are commonly associated with a high risk for substance abuse: academic failure, disrupted family, alienation from the prevailing values of school and low self-esteem. The District views itself as a partner with law enforcement, parents and community groups, in working towards substance abuse abatement.

The District accepts the responsibility for developing programs that have a clear connection with reduction of risk in those categories mentioned. Programs will include the following five components: Prevention, Intervention, Referral, Support, and Enforcement.

Rule 6142.81

Programs for Student Substance Abuse Prevention will include the following five areas: Prevention, Intervention, Referral, Support and Enforcement.

1. Prevention Lodi Unified School District will provide alcohol and drug abuse prevention education to students, school staff and parents.
   1. Students
      1. Instruction shall be provided regarding the effect on the human body of using alcohol and other drugs, as part of the basic curriculum in grades K-7 and 9. The message to abstain from using alcohol and other drugs will be infused in other subject areas in grades 8 to 10-12 when appropriate.
      2. The curriculum will include prevention skills and strategies, such as decision making, self-esteem, consumer awareness and resistance to peer pressure.
      3. Outside community resources shall be used in assisting with the alcohol and drug prevention program.
   2. School Staff School staff members will become aware of their significant role in preventing alcohol and drug abuse. Activities will include the following:
      1. The staff will be trained in recognizing the signs of substance abuse and in the skills necessary to bring assistance to students whose school performance has been jeopardized.
      2. The program will assure that all faculty and staff receive formal training which provides an understanding of the causes, effects and symptoms of substance abuse.
      3. The staff will be offered training, including the procedures which are to be implemented in cases involving students who are affected because of alcohol and substance abuse within their families.
      4. The staff will be made aware of school and community resources for early intervention and treatment.
      5. The staff will be made aware of the responsibilities of counselors and administrators in cases of students’ substance abuse.
   3. Parents Schools will provide information and resources for parents and encourage them to become involved in school and community services for alcohol and drug abuse prevention.
2. Intervention The District has developed guidelines for procedures that specify how members of the staff become involved in assisting young people at risk. The school district and individual school sites will continually seek the cooperation, advice and counsel of parents, students, law enforcement, and medical and mental health agencies within the community as these procedures are implemented. Staff development programs will include updated referral procedures to appropriate referral sources.
3. Referral Counselors, intervention coordinators, and identified administrators at each school site will have access to the information referral procedures for appropriate intervention and treatment services in the community. The role of the school staff will be to recognize at-risk students and refer these students to the counselor, intervention coordinator, or identified administrator.
4. Support
   1. The schools will provide ongoing activities that promote a healthy and abstinent lifestyle.
   2. Students returning to school from a community in-patient or out-patient treatment program will be given access to support services through the counseling departments.
5. Enforcement The District has a responsibility to provide a safe, drug and alcohol free educational environment for all students. A pupil is, therefore, subject to suspension or to expulsion by the Board of Education whenever it is established that the pupil has, on school premises or wherever the school has jurisdiction, used, sold, or been in possession of narcotics, hallucinogens, alcohol or other dangerous drugs. The District will work closely with law enforcement agencies to ensure that local, state, or federal laws are upheld on and about school campuses and that referral to appropriate community agencies is utilized.