As an educational institution, ASFG’s first belief is that the school should provide assistance to students who have problems with the use and abuse of alcohol and drugs. For this reason we have designed and implemented an educational program with emphasis on prevention, reduction of risk factors, and clear disciplinary guidelines.
- students under the influence of alcohol and/or controlled substances are prohibited from campus.
- if it is proven that any student sells or freely distributes drugs or illegal medicine inside or outside school, he/she will immediately be permanently expelled
- parents and/or guardians, as well as the proper authorities, will be notified
- any visitor to the school who is found in possession, distributing, or under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or any illegal substance will be escorted off campus and the proper authorities will be notified; they will be immediately registered as no longer having access to the school under any circumstances
- any student suspected and proven of abusing alcohol, illegal drugs, or prescription medicine, in or out of school, will be referred to a school counselor. If the student is evaluated as needing treatment, guidelines will be designed for rehabilitation and a test period will be established, agreed to, and ratified by the Director General
- if the above is not fulfilled, disciplinary actions will be enforced, meaning the person may be expelled
- the school counselor will evaluate any student who recognizes that he or she has a problem with the use and abuse of alcohol, illegal drugs, or prescription medicine, and requests assistance and will be responsible for designing a plan of action for rehabilitation; this information is considered confidential and the school will provide a guide of rehabilitation services available in the community
- if the student and his/her family do not follow the guidelines, they may be required to remove themselves from the school community
- re-admission into the school will not be considered for any student who has been expelled
- if a student must be referred to a professional or for clinical treatment, the cost will be covered by the student and the student’s family
The American School Foundation of Guadalajara reserves the right, without previous notification, to carry out drug testing and the search of lockers, purses, backpacks, and other personal belongings, including cars.
- drug tests will be applied by trained personnel under the supervision of the medical department of the school
- drug tests will be administered if there is probable cause
If test results are positive, the person will report to the school counselor and corrective or disciplinary actions will be taken.
Substance Abuse Prevention Program
Our substance abuse prevention program is imparted by Freedom from Chemical Dependency (FCD). FCD is a non-profit organization that provides substance abuse prevention education for schools. Since 1976, they have taught over a million students of all ages. At ASFG, FCD Prevention Specialists provide yearly workshops to parents, teachers, and students in middle school and high school. The program objectives at ASFG are the following:
- Encourage and support the non-use of alcohol and other illegal or illicit drugs during the growing years.
- Empower young people to make healthy, responsible choices regarding alcohol and other drug use.
- Teach students and adults how to recognize the early warning signs of substance abuse and to intervene appropriately.
- Educate students, parents, teachers, and administrators on the physiological and psychological effects of alcohol and other drugs.
- Promote awareness of drug addiction, including alcoholism, as a progressive, chronic, and often fatal disease.
- Provide educational communities with the guidance and training necessary to implement comprehensive, effective approaches to substance abuse prevention.