But many students still ignore its warnings. They don’t always realize that marijuana, ecstasy, steroids, alcohol, nonprescribed painkillers and countless other drugs fall into this category. Even drug paraphernalia could lead to expulsion.
“Any student involved in any kind of controlled/illegal substance is referred to CCSD substance abuse awareness program,” says Silverado High School dean Susan Thornton.
The only exception to this rule is prescription drugs. Prescribed drugs are allowed on campus if they are prescribed to you. The prescription must be checked into the nurse’s office. Sharing or selling a prescription drug will lead to expulsion.
Many students believe if they don’t use the drug on school campus, the school can’t do anything about it. But if a student uses any type of illegal drug over the weekend and it affects the safety of themselves or other students during the school week, the school has the right to get involved, according to Thornton.
She adds that students are responsible for what’s in their bags. Though “it’s not mine” is a common excuse, if the substance is in their backpack, they are responsible for it.
If faculty have any reason to believe a student has an illegal or controlled substance, they have the right to search the student’s belongings as well.
“Anything on school grounds is subject to search; this includes book bags, lockers and cars,” Thornton says.
Silverado’s main problem is marijuana and non-prescribed pills, according to the administration. A few students this year have already overdosed on cold medicines and been hospitalized, says Assistant Principal Camille Knopp.
According to the annual CCSD accountability report, in the 2007-2008 school year, there were 82 incidents of distribution of controlled substances district wide. There were also 820 incidents of use/possession and 163 incidents involving alcohol.
This is a problem because when it comes to drugs, many teens don’t know exactly what they are using and what it could do to their bodies. Others know full well the dangers involved with drug and alcohol use, but seem oblivious to the legal consequences.
If the police find an individual that has less than one ounce of an illegal substance in his or her possession, he or she is charged with a misdemeanor, which may lead to arrest or a citation.
“If it is a misdemeanor, we can arrest, cite or use discretion,” says school police officer Victor Pierro.
A citation is a form of a ticket. A citation is a quicker, more efficient way of processing the accused into the system. Once you sign the citation, you are promising to appear in court at a later date -- up to six weeks after the incident.
According to the psychology department of Juvenile Masters of the Clark County District Court, if the person is under the age of 18, he/she is to appear in court on a first offense misdemeanor involved with drugs. If found guilty, the court typically refers him/her to a program. This program decides either to send him/her to an educational drug course or to a rehabilitation center. Then the individual will have an informal probation that lasts from 30-90 days.
However, if a person has more than one ounce of an illegal substance, that person will be arrested and charged with a felony. Selling any amount of an illegal substance is also a felony. Felonies tend to lead to jail time.
School police say there have already been several citations issued and several students arrested this school year.
For more information on drugs and their effects on the body, visit http://teens.drugabuse.gov/