Freehold Regional High School District Random Drug Testing ...

Freehold Regional High School DistrictRandom Drug Testing ProgramMarch, 2009

Drug Use is Harmful to DevelopingBrains• Marijuana Use is Associated With Higher Risk of DrugUse/Addiction in Adulthood• Predictor of Increased Risk of Psychosis/ Serious MentalIllness

FRHSDNeeds Assessment: Task ForceCreated• All Six High Schoolsrepresented• Monthly meetings sinceOctober• Created Individual SchoolSub-Groups who have met:– Parents– Administrators– Teachers– Students– Nurse– Security– CoachesTask Force Consists of:• Board of Education Members• Parents• Members of Community Alliance• Superintendent Wasser,• Assistant SuperintendentEmmerman,• Principals, Assistant Principals• Supervisors of Extra CurricularActivities• Student Assistance Counselors• Nurses

FRHSD District Needs• Reviewed NationalState and LocalData:– Drug Use is “up”Among Teens– Opiate Use Is On The Rise• American Drug andAlcohol Survey tobe Administered inMarch– Results Due in AprilAssessment:

FRHSD Data: Number of Students Sent Out forSuspicion Drug Tests Over Time2006-2007=542007-2008=642008-2009=67September6213October6917November592December81115January1279February172611Total546467• In Addition, The Number of Students Sent out forNon Punitive Drug Tests Have Increased.– 07-08: 84 Students Tested– 9/08-2/09: 80 Students Tested

History: Case Law• 1995- US Supreme Court- Vernonia Decision:– Allows Athletes To Be Tested• 2002-US Supreme Court –Earls Decision:– Allows Athletes, Those Involved in Extracurricular Activitiesand Those Who Have Parking Permits to be Tested• 2002-NJ Supreme Court-Hunterdon Central Decision– Upholds Student Random Drug Testing• 2005- Title 18A:40A-22-New Jersey Statute– Allows BOE’s to Adopt a Policy to Enact RDT• 2006-NJSIAA Enacts Mandatory Drug Testing forAthletes in Post-Season

Research Shows:If We Can Delay theOnset of Drug Useor Diminish The FrequencyWe Reduce the Risk ofAddiction for That Student

FRHSD Random Drug Screening GoalsTo Promote Health andSafetyTo Deter Drug andAlcohol Use:Countering Peer Pressure To InviteVoluntary Testing To Encourage Students WhoTest Positive to Participatein Education Programsand Counseling

FRHSD Random Drug Screening:Primary Emphasis: Deterrence and Prevention NOT Punishment

NJ Statute Allows RDT of: StudentsWithStudents Who Volunteerfor the ProgramAll AthletesPrivilegesAll Students Involved inExtra -CurricularActivitiesStudents Granted Parking Permits

3 Step Procedure• Collect Sample– Nurses Office, Private• All Tests Confirmed By ALab• Final Results ReviewedBy a Certified MedicalDoctorAll Results AreStrictly…CONFIDENTIAL!!!

FRHSD Protocols and Procedures• Computer Program forRandom Selection– Use of ID numbers• Two Step Process– Onsite Collection– Lab Analysis

Role of the Certified MedicalDoctor: Medical Review Officer “MRO”• A Non -Negative Result fromLaboratory Screening• Lab calls Medical ReviewOfficer• MRO calls Prescribing Doctor,Pharmacy, Parent ANDStudent to Confirm– Example: Student PrescribedAdderall/Ritalin will Test Non-Negative for “Amphetamine”– Once Confirmed, a “Negative”Report Goes to StudentAssistance Counselor

Non Punitive Consequences forA “Positive” Test: First Offense• 30 Calendar DayReprieve fromActivities/Athletics• 30 School Day Reprievefrom Parking Privilege• NO Suspensions fromAcademics• DOES NOT Appear onAny Discipline Record• Minimum 4 Counseling Sessions with StudentAssistance Counselor

FRHSD’s Comprehensive Approachto Substance Abuse2009-2010• Suspicion/PunitiveTesting• Intervention andReferral Services– (non punitive)• Random Drug Testing

FRHSD’s Comprehensive Drugand Alcohol Program• Student AssistanceCounselor• Student AssistancePrograms• Mandatory Drug andAlcohol Education• Special Programs• Assemblies• Clubs: ADAPT,REBEL

Interrupted Random Testing CausesAn Increase in Substance Use• High School in NorthJersey had RDSSuspended for 3Years Due toLitigation (1999)– After 3 Years (2002)Found Drug Use Up inDistrict on Average of200%

Questions, Comments…We as Educators Are Committed ToGiving our Children the Best, Safest andMost Productive Environment forLearning…..