Chemical Abuse Procedures

The Chemical Abuse Procedures

for Violation of the Drug, Tobacco and Alcohol Use Policy by Students

 

Participation in athletic and non-athletic extracurricular activities is a privilege, not a right. Students and parents/guardians need to be aware of the following procedures for violations of the Chemical Abuse Policy (JICH) dated May 9, 2007. Agreeing to the rules and procedures is a precondition to participation in these activities. These agreements are in the form of pledges and must be signed by parents/guardians and student. Coaches and activity sponsors shall foster a process for the acceptance of these agreements that reinforces the values of the program and the concept that one’s word of honor in a pledge is inviolable.

 

Any student who is a participant in an athletic or non-athletic extracurricular activity shall not:

 

  1. Use a tobacco products (including smokeless).
  2. Use a beverage containing alcohol (regardless of the quantity).
  3. Use or be in the presence of the use or storage of alcohol and /or drugs.
  4. Possess, buy, sell or give away marijuana or any other substance defined by law as a “drug” (Title 17-A, Maine Revised Statutes Annotated, Chapter 25).
  5. Use, possess, buy, or sell or give away any substance which can affect or change a student’s mental state, physical condition, or behavior pattern, including but not limited to volatile materials such as glue, paint or aerosols (when possessed for the purpose of inhalation); over the counter medications (such as pseudoephedrine or dextromethorphan) that when used alone in larger quantity or in combination with other drugs may pose serious health risks (including death); or other plants and herbs smoked or ingested with the intent to produce drug-like effects.
  6. Use control substances as defined in the Federal Controlled Substance Act, 21 USC 812 (examples include but are not limited to: narcotics, hallucinogens, amphetamines, barbiturates, marijuana, and anabolic steroids).
  7. Use any performance enhancing substance list in the Maine Department of Health and Human Services Banned Substances list and any other substance which is illegal in Maine or the use of which is illegal for minors.
  8. Use prescription drugs not prescribed for the student and/or not in compliance with the Board’s policy: Administrating Medicines to Students (FILE: JLCD)
  9. Possess drug paraphernalia (defined as any implement used to distribute, deliver or consume a prohibited substance) or any counterfeit drug or substance that is described as or is purported to be a prohibited substance as defined above.

Students may be in the possession of a legally defined drug specifically prescribed for the student’s own use by her/his physician.

Students and parents/guardians need to understand that violation of the Chemical Abuse Policy is cumulative to a maximum of three (3) offenses during their high school career. It is understood that a student who violates the Chemical Abuse Policy while not participating in an athletic or non-athletic activity shall have those violation(s) count when applying for athletic and/or non-athletic extracurricular eligibility.

These procedures apply to all participants in athletic or non-athletic activities beginning the date of the fall preseason until the end of the school year or post-season, whichever is longer. For all other participants these procedures apply from the beginning of the school year until the end of the school year.

Each violation will be reviewed by the Principal or her/his designee and referred to the Substance Abuse Team. SAT members include the school nurse, the student’s guidance counselor, the school Substance Abuse Counselor, the Athletic Administrator and an administrator. The SAT will make the recommendations for discipline and/or treatment for each student violation of the Chemical Abuse Policy. The parents/guardians and participant will meet with the SAT to address the violation. The recommendation(s) of the SAT must be followed before the participant will be allowed to return to full participation in an extracurricular activity.

I. Type I Offenses – Disciplinary Action for Possession of, Use of, and/or in the presence of Prohibited Substance(s) while a participant in any athletic and /or non-athletic extracurricular activity.

A. First Offense

1. The coach, advisor and/or administrator (or designee) will discuss and verify the violation with the student participant involved who is suspected of the violation.

2. If not already accomplished by I.A.1. Athletic Coaches will notify the Athletic Administrator, who will notify the Principal. Advisors or coaches of non-athletic extracurricular activities will notify the Principal. Once the violation is verified the Principal will make the offense known to the Substance Abuse Team.

3. The following disciplinary procedure will be implemented:

  1. The student participant will be suspended from all athletic and/or non-athletic activities for the minimum of ten (10) athletic and/or non-athletic participation days or the number of school days recommended by the Substance Abuse Team.
  2. The student upon returning to the activity may not participate in any contest or competition until a minimum of five (5) days of athletic and/ or non-athletic extracurricular participation has been completed.
  3. If the involved student has originally disclosed the offense her/himself, the suspension will be considered to have begun on the date of that disclosure. In all other circumstances of disclosure the disciplinary suspension will begin on the date the offense is verified.
  4. For those violations that occur in the spring the consequences shall carry over into the next school year if the ten day/5 day requirements outlined in I.A.3.a. and I.A.3.b. have not been met in the spring semester.
  5. The student will be required to follow the recommendation(s) made by the Substance Abuse Team prior to resuming participation in any extracurricular activities.
  6. The student will meet with a licensed school Substance Abuse Counselor for a minimum of three times for evaluation prior to returning to participation. If the parents/guardians chooses to meet with another licensed Substance Abuse Counselor it shall be at the expense of the parents/guardians. In the event that an appointment can not be attended in a reasonable time frame the student will provide the Athletic Administrator or an Assistant Principal, if the violation occurred in a non-athletic activity/team/club with the date of his/her appointment. Base on the evidence of a scheduled appointment the Athletic Administrator or Assistant Principal will allow the student to return to participation in an activity no more than three (3) days before the date of his/her appointment.

B. Second Offense

 

1. Procedures I.A.1., I.A.2. and 1.A.3.f. will be followed.

2. The following disciplinary procedure will be implemented:

  1. The participant will be suspended from all athletic and/or non-athletic extracurricular activity for the remainder of the team/activity/club season and until the beginning of that activity the following year or the recommendation of the Substance Abuse Team.
  2. The beginning date of the suspension will be determined as in I.A.3.c.
  3. For those violations that occur in the spring the consequences shall carry over into the next school year.
  4. The student will be required to follow the recommendation(s) of the Substance Abuse Team prior to resuming participation in any athletic or non-athletic extracurricular activity.

C. Third and Subsequent Offenses

 

1. Procedures I.A.1., I.A.2. and 1.A.3.f. will be followed.

2. The following disciplinary procedure will be implemented.

  1. The student will be suspended from all athletic and/ or non-athletic extracurricular activity for the remainder of her/his period(s) of enrollment in Brunswick High School.
  2. After one calendar year of suspension from athletic and/or non-athletic extracurricular activity, the student may petition the Substance Abuse Team for reinstatement of her/his extracurricular eligibility. Whether or not this eligibility is restored, as well as the conditions under which eligibility is restored, will be at the discretion of the Substance Abuse Team.
  3. The beginning date of the suspension will be determined as in I.A.3.c. above.

II. Type II Offenses – Disciplinary Procedures Subsequent to Selling or Furnishing any Prohibited Substance while a participant in an extracurricular activity.

A. First Offense

1. Procedures I.A.1., I.A.2 and I.A.3.f. will be followed.

2. The student will be suspended from participation in athletic and/or non- athletic extracurricular activities for one calendar year.

B. Second Offense

1. Procedures I.A.1, I.A.2 and I.A.3.f. will be followed.

2. The student will be suspended from participation in athletic and/or non-athletic extracurricular activities for the remainder of her/his period(s) of enrollment in Brunswick High School.

Participants who violate the Chemical Abuse Policy during the school year but not during their sport season shall have the violation count in the Chemical Abuse “three strike” procedure.

 

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