Drug Testing Policies and Substance Abuse Prevention Program

Policy Statement

It is Juan Diego’s goal to maintain a safe, healthy, and productive learning environment, free of substance abuse. Juan Diego’s policies are not in place to hunt or target students at Juan Diego, but rather to provide them the opportunity to say “no” prior to use. 

As a school community, we are proactive by executing a program that will help our students deal with the real-life peer pressures placed upon today’s teenagers. Research indicates that young people need a technique or a reason to be able to “Say No to Drugs and Alcohol” while still maintaining their self-esteem or image with their peers and/or friends. The ability to say “no” but still save face under peer pressure is extremely important. Research has also found that random drug testing is one of the most effective reasons for refusing to use drugs and alcohol while maintaining friendships and self-esteem. To achieve this goal, Juan Diego adopted and implemented a comprehensive Student Substance Abuse Policy and Program in 2006 as outlined in this portion.

Generally, the School’s objectives include but are not limited to:

• Creating and maintaining a safe, drug-free learning environment for all students by prohibiting and disciplining substance abuse.

• Reducing the problems of absenteeism, tardiness, carelessness, and/or unsatisfactory performance related to substance abuse.

• Reducing the likelihood of accidental personal injury and/or property damage.

• Eliminating substance abuse and its effects on the school.

• Identifying substance abuse as early as possible.

• Encouraging students with substance abuse problems to seek professional assistance.

• Providing students with a toolkit to say “no.”

This policy has been designed to create a safe, drug-free environment for students and to assist those students who may be struggling with substance abuse, in getting help when needed. Juan Diego’s environment is one of the main reasons parents entrust their children to us. Again, please keep in mind that the goal is not to catch students who are using drugs. Rather, the goal is to increase their awareness of the dangers of alcohol and drugs, to teach them good coping skills in dealing with peer pressure, and to give them a solid, legitimate reason for saying “no” to drugs and alcohol. Our hope at Juan Diego Catholic High School is that NO student ever tests positive, due to the fact that they were able to say “NO” before drug or alcohol use is even started.

Definitions

Drug: A drug is any substance considered illegal for use by minors or considered a controlled substance by the State of Utah and/or the United States Food and Drug Administration.

Reasonable Suspicion: In addition to random drug testing, JDCHS will ask students to submit to a drug and/or alcohol test if there is reasonable suspicion. Reasonable suspicion is defined as sufficient reasons or basis, in fact, to give rise to a reasonable belief that a student has drugs and/or alcohol in her/his blood system. Reasonable suspicion may be based on, but not limited to (1) Conduct that causes reasonable suspicion to believe that there is the presence of illegal or unauthorized drugs and/or alcohol in an individual’s body fluids based upon specific observations concerning behavior, speech, and/or body odors; (2) Other circumstances which would indicate that an individual is reporting to school in other than a sober and reliable state, free from the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.

Testing

Who will be tested: All students are a part of the random testing pool.

How will students be tested: Screens of urine, saliva, and/or hair follicle. 

Students will be tested at an off-campus site near the school, accompanied by a parent.

Student Selection

On days determined by the Assistant Principal / Dean(s), and/or a designee, students will be randomly selected from the student body to provide samples for screening purposes.

Confidentiality

All reasonable steps will be taken to assure the confidentiality, integrity, and random nature of the process. All drug and/or alcohol testing results are considered confidential information and will be handled accordingly.

Scope of Tests

JDCHS utilizes the services of fully accredited testing laboratories for urine and/or hair analysis to determine the presence or absence of a broad range of drugs including, but not limited to, alcohol, amphetamines/methamphetamines, cocaine, opiates, phencyclidine, cannabinoids (marijuana, hashish), barbiturates, benzodiazepines (Valium, Librium, Xanax, and other tranquilizers), methadone, propoxyphene, and volatiles

Communication of Test Results

Negative Results: The testing laboratory will report negative results to the Assistant Principal / Dean(s), or such other person as the school may from time to time designate. The Assistant Principal / Dean(s) will communicate the results confidentially to the student.

Positive Results: The testing laboratory will confirm all positive test results. If the confirmatory test is positive, the following procedures will be followed: The testing laboratory will report positive test results to the Assistant Principal / Dean(s). The Assistant Principal / Dean(s) will meet with the student and his /her parent(s) and will inform them of the positive result.

Consequences

Positive Test Results

It is recommended that students who test positive on a drug and/or alcohol screen seek confirmation through an outside physician and/or laboratory. All drug and/or alcohol testing results are considered confidential information and will be handled accordingly.

First Positive: When a student is identified with a positive determination the student must 

(1) Participate in a Parent Conference with school officials; 

(2) Sign a Conduct Agreement for the duration of enrollment at JDCHS; 

(3) Student and parent must attend and pay for a one-week, early intervention course through 3rd Millennium Classrooms.

(4) Upon confirmation of a positive test, the student will be fined $100 /completion of school service and the cost of the test and will be fined and assessed the test cost for each test thereafter; 

5) Submit to regular testing (every time the school conducts a random test) with financial responsibility for subsequent tests resting with student and parent/guardian(s).

Second Positive: When a student is identified with a second positive determination the appropriateness of her/his continued enrollment at JDCHS will be determined.

Additional consequences may apply to students involved in extracurricular activities as dictated by the policies and procedures outlined in the Utah High School Activities Association Handbook.

Non-Punitive Nature of Drug Testing Policy

The results of drug tests pursuant to this policy will not be documented in any student’s academic records. Information regarding results of drug tests will not be disclosed to criminal or juvenile authorities except in cases of legal compulsion by a valid and binding subpoena or other legal processes, which JDCHS will not solicit

Search Policies and Procedures

School personnel are charged with protecting the health and safety of all students and promoting the effective operation of the school. The interest of individual students in securing personal privacy must be balanced against the interest of the community in protecting students against disruptive or illegal conduct by other students.

Since lockers, desks, and other storage areas are provided to students by the school, they remain the property of the school. These areas are assigned to students for their use on the condition that they will be used in a manner consistent with the law and school rules. School personnel, or their designee, may conduct inspections of these areas, students’ personal possessions, and the contents thereof at any time with or without the student present in order to fulfill their responsibility of maintaining proper control and management of the school.

Students have no expectation of privacy in lockers, personal possessions, or vehicles when parked on school property. School personnel, or their designee, can search those at any time with reason.

At random times throughout the academic school year, in partnership with local law enforcement agencies, there will be searches of the Skaggs Catholic Center property, students’ personal property, and parking lots.