Experimentation Gone Wrong! How Teachers Can Help With This.

By: Sanaiya Moore

The screaming alarm woke the student at 5:30 a.m. The student rolled out of bed, took a nice-hot shower, put their uniform on, and ate a bowl of Captain Crunch to prepare for their first day of Senior year. Before arriving at school, the student met up with a friend and bought a snack from them. The snack was in a ziplock bag; and was one with a cubic shape and an unusual scent. They shared this snack as they continued their journey to school. About an hour after consuming the snack, their eyes were low and bloodshot red. They were awfully quiet in class and when called on they would talk fairly slow. These students were high. 

Many high school level students suffer from substance abuse, but the teachers take no action. As a teacher, their job is to not only educate students, but to also be responsible for the security and health of their students. It is challenging for teachers to keep up with these responsibilities due to the constant change in demographics of students who use illicit drugs. Drug-free school zone laws (18 Pa.C.S.A. 6317) attempt to make this responsibility simpler by banning the selling and possession of illicit drugs within 1,000 feet of a school’s campus. In Philadelphia, teachers are obligated to immediately report an incident in which an individual is found in possession of, selling, or using a drug. According to the School District of Philadelphia Employee Handbook, “Incidents must be reported immediately if they are of such a serious nature that assistance is needed from the Office of School Climate and Safety and/or the police, or if the incident may have negative parental or public awareness connotations.” The concern surrounding this is why don’t teachers adhere to theses expectations?

Many teachers may fear that they might falsely accuse someone of substance abuse, or some teachers are uneducated on its symptoms. To prevent a false accusation, a teacher should contemplate why they believe a student is dealing with substance abuse. Indications include physical and behavioral changes. 

If a teacher notices a physical and/or behavioral change, it is encouraged that teachers persuade the student to come clean first. If they don't, then the next best thing is to contact their guardian. All in all, for the sake of their job and reputation, a teacher should not go against school policy, even if they are simply trying to help.

Ultimately, a quick and careful decision can benefit a student’s life for the better. More likely than not, a student facing substance abuse will want to get proper help. Being a moderator for them will create a trusted bond that could potentially lead to them opening up. All that is needed is for more people to express their voice. In doing this, the demographics of students who use illicit drugs in Philadelphia could decrease, saving many lives and preventing others from going down the same route.