| Calhoun Middle-High School principal Karen Kirby told school board members Monday evening about the use of imitation, prescription and illegal drugs in the school.
Kirby suggested the policy for randomly drug testing only athletes be reviewed to also include student drivers in privately owned vehicles.
In addition, she recommended parents be allowed to place their child's name in a drug testing pool for the price of the drug test.
Kirby said students begin using imitation drugs at any age. Common items are canned air, paint, markers, white-out, nail polish remover and other common household items.
"We recently had two male students huffing canned air and one student fell in the restroom resulting in injury which required an ambulance and stitches in his head." she said.
"Students have painted their nails with the white-out to allow them to smell it during the day."
Some students obtain non-prescription medications, crush and snort them for a buzz.
Imitation drugs are popular because of easy access, easy to hide, with some teens believing they are not harmful.
"Prescription drugs are currently one of our largest problems,
as well as every other school in the nation," said Kirby.
Students often access them from home medicine cabinets.
Many people do not lock up their prescription drugs nor keep track of the number of pills. Kirby said
Shari Johnson has conducted training at the senior citizens center to inform elderly citizens.
"Marijuana
is the only illegal drug found in our school this year. The recent PRIDE Survey conducted in May 2007 reported the majority of drug use is on the weekends, at friend's homes or with friends.
KIRBY GIVES PREVENTION MEASURES
· Student reporting has accounted for all of the drug disciplines and expulsions which have occurred this year. We have provided students security and privacy in reporting what they have observed or heard. The reporters are never singled out or called into the office. We call parents and report the positive behavior of their children.
· Random testing policy has provided testing of extra-curricular activities for about 10 years and to date two students have tested positive. We would like to review our policy to include students driving to school. Currently other counties in the state have added driving to county policies as this is also an extra privilege.
· The school has been working collaboratively with others such as Calhoun-Gilmer Career Center. We share information and assist in searching if a student has traveled to the other building after information was received. The Criminal Justice lab has also tested powder found in our school.
· Consistent consequences are a very important deterrent. Students, parents and public know that every drug offense is taken
seriously and will be taken to the board of education.
· Currently preventive measures being planned for next year include increased education in Adviser/Advisee classes in all grades. The school administration has requested the State Police
drug dogs visit the school unannounced and as
frequently as possible.
· The school and county are currently in need of another counselor. The students are facing tremendous issues at home and school.
| 
