Schools in Billerica, Massachusetts, may soon have some new faces roaming the halls. The School Committee is considering whether to allow drug-sniffing dogs to search the schools.

The searches would be random and unannounced. The dogs, which are trained to sniff out marijuana, cocaine, and heroin, would be able to search all school property, including lockers, classrooms, parking lots, and storage areas.

Police Chief Dan Rosa said that he believes the step is necessary for improving school safety. The move toward drug-sniffing dogs was prompted, in part, by a recent survey of more than 2,000 students which found that marijuana use among the city's students was 111 percent higher than the national average. Source: The Lowell Sun

Labels: drug-sniffing dogs, high_school, safety

Alaska is soon to become the second state to implement a statewide drug policy for high school students. It made the move in an effort to curb teen drug and alcohol use, which is among the highest in the nation.

"Students participating in an interscholastic activity who are reported using drugs, alcohol or tobacco will face progressively more severe penalties. A first offense brings a 10-day suspension from all activities. A fourth offense will result in a participation ban for the rest of the student's time at school."

The policy remains in effect even when a student athlete's activity is over for the year. The only exception is for tobacco use. If a student is caught using tobacco while on suspension, the suspension will start over, and will continue being re-started until the entire 10 days have been served. Source: Anchorage Daily News

Labels: athletics, high_school, suspension

Lindsey was a 4.0 high school student who was into swimming and was also the MVP of her softball team; until an older boyfriend introduced her to cocaine. Her addiction was immediate and the next year of her life was consumed by the drug.

"According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, by the time a teen reaches age 17, 7 out of 10 will have been offered an illegal drug. Many, like Lindsey, underestimate how quickly they can develop an addiction."

The key to recovery, according to therapist Paul Hokemeyer, is to put the addicted person in a new community; a residential treatment program that can help him or her break the cycle. Read more at WUSA.9.com.

Labels: addiction, athletics, high_school