The Board of Education views with grave concern the serious implications of alcohol, drug and tobacco use by people, especially young people, throughout the United States and the school district. In keeping with its primary responsibility, the education of youth, the Board charges the professional staff of the district to continue to investigate the causes of student involvement with drugs, tobacco and alcohol, and to develop suitable preventive measures however and whenever feasible.
The Board and the professional staff shall continue to seek ways to educate students and school staff of the district about the dangers of the illegal use of drugs and the abuse of alcohol and tobacco. Instruction will include sessions about the causes and effects of drug, alcohol and tobacco abuse, especially in young people. In addition, all high school students will receive instruction on the dangers of driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
The following objectives must be realized if the goal of minimizing drug, tobacco and alcohol abuse is to be achieved:
- students shall be encouraged to identify the problem and its causes and to organize to solve it;
- they should understand the nature of legal and illegal drugs and tobacco;
- they shall be encouraged to develop a set of values and behavioral insights which shall give them a deeper understanding of themselves and society;
- they shall be encouraged to identify the variety of alternate forms of behavior, other than drug or alcohol abuse and tobacco use, which are available to satisfy their needs; and
- they shall be encouraged to make constructive decisions concerning the use of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.
While the Board in no way condones the abuse of illegal or harmful substances, it is in the interest of student and staff health that a climate be created in the schools so that individuals with problems may seek to receive help without fear of reprisal.
Cross-ref:
- 5310, Student Discipline
- 5312.3, Smoking
Ref:
- Education Law §802
Adoption date: May 27, 1997
Reviewed: May 22, 2017