Drug Awareness and Prevention Program

1
Drug Awareness and Prevention Program

• Program Update
• October 16, 2008

2
FHSD History

• Researched effective programs-- 2005-2006
• Implemented RSDT Program--2006-2007
• Recognized a need to be proactive wanted to
  give students a tool to help them say NO to
  drug use
• Committed to providing a drug-free learning
  community for students and staff

3
Purpose Statement

• Francis Howell School District strives to use
  education, communication and accountability to
  eliminate drug use by students.

4
Random Drug Testing Program

• Program Goals
• Create a safe drug-free learning environment
• Enhance existing drug prevention/educational
  programs
• Provide an avenue to obtain drug assessment
  counseling for students
• Reduce school suspensions expulsions

5
Random Drug Testing Program

• Random Student Drug Testing is NOT
• An avenue to expel students
• A program involving law enforcement
• A punitive program with academic consequences
• A record of drug use that will follow the student
  when leaving school
• A replacement for parental involvement and other
  drug prevention efforts
• A means to determine what prescription drugs
  students may be using legitimately

6
Random test pool

• All high school students that participate in
  extracurricular activities and all students that
  have a parking pass were required to enroll in
  the drug testing program
• All students in grades 9-12 participated with
  parent approval

7
What illegal drugs did we test for?

• Marijuana
• Amphetamines
• Cocaine
• Benzodiazepines
• Opiates
• Methamphetamine
• Methylenedioxymethamphetamine(MDMA) --Ecstasy
• Anabolic Steroids

8
How many students were tested?

• Students were selected randomly each week that
  students are in session
• 4367 out of 6088 students in grades 9-12 signed
  up for the RSDT program (71.7)
• 672 random drug tests administered (15 of pool)
• 86 anabolic steroid tests No Positives!!
• Total Costs for Drug Testing 34,080

9
What are the test results?

• 2007-008
• Fifteen (15) positive tests for illegal drugs
• (Two positive tests for more than 1 illegal
  drug)
• Marijuana
• Cocaine
• Amphetamines
• Benzodiazepines
• Down from 16 positive tests during the
• 2006-2007 school year

10
Bridgeway Counseling Services

• Certified by the Missouri Department of Mental
  Health
• Counseling and intervention services are provided
  to Francis Howell families at no cost.
• Out of the 15 positive tests in 2007-2008
• 10 of the students went in for an initial
  assessment
• 6 of those 10 completed the counseling program

11
Is Drug Testing Preventing Use?

• Drug Related COC Hearings
• 2006-200755 Drug Related COC
• 45 High Schools
• 10 Middle School
• 2007-200876 Drug Related COC
• 67 High Schools
• 8 Middle School
• 1 Elementary
• 2008-2009
• 13 drug offenses to dateup from 6 at this time
  in 2007-2008

12
Next Steps

• Form a Drug Awareness and Prevention Task Force
• Research current realities of drug use
• Conduct survey of students and parents to monitor
  current reality about drug use in our community
• Determine best approach to increase drug
  prevention through educational opportunities
• Apply for a federal grant focusing on prevention
• Review Middle School drug testing program

13
Drug Awareness and Prevention Program

• Questions