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Substance Abuse Policy
The American School Foundation of Guadalajara’s philosophy on the use of alcohol and drugs focuses on two points:
• addiction to alcohol and drugs on the part of the students is incompatible with academic life and with the fundamental principle of leading a healthy life
• the use and/or abuse of prohibited substances is a serious problem in society affecting personal health
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. When a student doesn’t have the ability or capacity to control his/her impulses, the school will provide outside control. This will be done through discipline that is clearly established beforehand and justly applied. Firm adherence to this type of discipline is one of the most effective therapeutic strategies, especially for adolescents. Without discipline they do not learn to control their impulses, and with guidelines they have the opportunity to do so.
Guidelines
• 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 for a proper evaluation; if 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
Additional Procedures
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 Testing
• 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.
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