Policy 1050 – Alcohol, Drug, and Tobacco Free Environment

General

Curriculum

Employee Training

The HCPSS will provide training on the provisions of this policy and the implementation procedures for its employees. This training will address:

The Superintendent/designee and school administrators will inform students, parents, employees, and the public that school buildings and school properties are alcohol, drug, and tobacco free and will communicate the provisions of this policy on an annual basis.

The Superintendent/designee will regularly monitor the health education program regarding the use, abuse, and misuse of alcohol, drugs, and tobacco to help students focus on health prevention concepts and to practice life skills in a safe and supportive environment.

The Superintendent/designee and administrators will implement this policy.

The Superintendent/designee will provide a report annually to the Board reviewing the effectiveness of the implementation of this policy and SAP procedures, as well as an accounting of policy violations.

Alcohol – Ale, beer, wine, whiskey, rum, gin, or any other spirituous, vinous, malt, or fermented liquor or compound by whatever name it is called. This includes any product that contains the aforementioned liquors or compounds.

Constructive Possession – Having both knowledge of the presence of alcohol, drugs, and/or drug paraphernalia, prescription medication, over-the-counter medication, tobacco, or electronic smoking devices and the ability to control/use them, without having actual physical possession. More than one person may have constructive possession at the same time.

Distribution – The actual or intended sale, transfer, trade, giving, exchange, and/or dispensing in any manner of alcohol, drugs and/or drug paraphernalia, prescription medication, over-the-counter medication, tobacco, or electronic smoking devices. Distribution does not include circumstances where a prohibited substance is possessed or owned collectively by all participants.

Drug – A controlled dangerous substance as listed in Section 5-101(g) of the Criminal Law Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland or a chemical substance when abused or used for unintended and harmful purposes.

Electronic Smoking Devices (ESD) – Any handheld electronic device including but not limited to e-cigarettes, pipes, pens, hookahs, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDs) and other devices used for vaping and/or smoking.

Inhalant – Any substance inhaled for the purpose of inducing a condition of intoxication, inebriation or excitement, or otherwise impairs one’s mental faculties.

Intent to Distribute – Possession of alcohol, drugs and/or drug paraphernalia, prescription medication, over-the-counter medication, tobacco or electronic smoking device(s), in or on any item or belonging under the control of the individual or owned by the individual, in such quantity and under such circumstances, observed or discovered, indicating the strong likelihood of distribution.

Over-the-Counter Medication – Medication available without a prescription.

Paraphernalia/Drug Paraphernalia – Any equipment or material of any kind that is used or intended for use in manufacturing, packaging, storing, concealing, and/or introducing a drug into the human body.Drug paraphernalia will also include those items listed in Section 5-101(p) of the Criminal Law Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

Parent – Any one of the following, recognized as the adult(s) legally responsible for the student:

Possession – The presence of alcohol, drugs and/or drug paraphernalia, prescription medication, over-the-counter medication, tobacco or electronic smoking device(s), however small the amount, in or on any item or belonging under the control of the individual or owned by the individual.

Prescription Medication – Substances that under federal law may not be dispensed obtained without a prescription or written certification authorized by a person licensed by the state to do so.

School Bus Stop– A designated location where students board and are discharged from a school bus.

School-Related Activity – Any school system activity, whether held on or off school property, in which a student directly participates (e.g., school field trip, athletic event, or class/graduation activity), or in which the student does not directly participate but represents the school or student body simply by being there (e.g., spectator at a school event).

School System Property – Any property owned or leased by the HCPSS or used by HCPSS for school-related activities. The concept of property extends to school activities such as field trips, use of parks and recreation facilities, proms at hotels, etc. School buses, school bus stops, and facilities scheduled by the school system for student use are considered an extension of school property.

Tobacco – Products derived from the tobacco plant that are smoked, chewed, sniffed, or otherwise consumed, as well as vaping products containing nicotine derived from tobacco. This does not include nicotine replacement therapy.

Tobacco Free Environment – An environment free of tobacco, nicotine, or tobacco-like product, plant or substance, whether natural or synthetic, in any manner or in any form.

Use – 1) A deliberate act of ingesting, injecting, inhaling, absorbing, and/or otherwise introducing into the human body alcohol or drugs; 2) A condition or state of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs. 3) A deliberate act of inhaling or exhaling the fumes of tobacco or any tobacco product that can be utilized like tobacco, including but not limited to snuff, chewing tobacco, herbs, spices, and the like in the mouth or nose.

Vaping – The act of inhaling any products through any electronic smoking device.

Written Medication Order – A written order written by a licensed prescriber, defined in the Howard County Health Services Manual, required for the administration of prescription medication and over-the-counter medication to students during school hours and at school-related events.