Hall County School system drug screening procedures for Interscholastic athletes

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Posted 8:06AM on Tuesday, August 9, 2005

HALL COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM DRUG SCREENING PROCEDURES FOR INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS The Hall County School System believes that the use and abuse of drugs that have not been prescribed for medical benefit can be detrimental to the physical, emotional, and mental health of their student-athletes. It is further believed that this use and abuse of drugs seriously interferes with the performance of the student-athletes, and is dangerous to themselves as well as their peers. Because of these serious concerns, the following drug screening procedure is proposed: GOALS · To develop a drug free program that produces student-athletes who serve as positive role models and influence their peers to lead healthy and responsible lives · To educate our student-athletes about the dangers and problems associated with drug use and abuse · To prevent drug use and abuse by our student-athletes · To identify any student-athlete who may be using and/or abusing drugs and to identify the drug(s), as well as to provide help through counseling and treatment · To educate our student-athletes of the effects drugs have on their mental, emotional, and physical well-being and the effect drug abuse has on their teammates, the athletic program, the school, and the community. PROCEDURES 1. The student-athlete must present to the head coach a signed consent form, which authorizes the school to administer drug testing and that allows the results of the test to be released to parents or guardians, administrative officials, and the head coach. (Note: A signed consent form is a requirement for participation in any GHSA governed inter-scholastic activity that requires an annual physical examination for participation. Parents and students do not have the option of not participating in the drug-screen program.) 2. Random testing will take place at any time during the school year with student-athletes chosen through lottery/random selection. The substances that will be tested include: amphetamines, barbiturates, cocaine, opiates, and propoxyphene. Testing consists of providing a urine sample to those representatives of the firm administering the test. School personnel will supervise but will not administer the test. Privacy of the students and confidentially of the tests results will be protected. Specimens will be processed for identity and secured to ensure against tampering. Test results will be reported to the school through the proper chain of command. In case of a positive result, the parent or guardian will be notified. 3. The student-athlete must fill out a form delineating any medication that he or she is taking. CONSEQUENCES FOR POSITIVE RESULTS First Positive If a test is returned positive, the parents or guardians and the student-athlete will be notified. A student's refusal to test will be considered a positive test result. The student-athlete will be banned for 10% of the team's scheduled games for the season (excluding practice scrimmages) beginning with the next schedule contest(s). The student-athlete may remain a part of the team and will be expected to participate in team practices or conditioning sessions. The student-athlete and parents must provide evidence of enrollment in a drug-counseling program approved by the Principal. The student-athlete must agree to another drug test within a timeframe recommended by the Northeast Georgia Toxicology Lab at family's expense (cost will be approximately $25), Second Positive If a student-athlete has a second positive screen, the parents or guardian and the athlete will be notified. The student-athlete will be suspended from the team at the time of notification. A meeting will be scheduled with the parents or guardians, the student-athlete, the principal, the head coach, and the athletic director to arrange the following: · Agree for participation in a drug treatment and counseling program on a regular basis, for a minimum of four weeks. Parents or guardians are expected to participate in the program. · Sign an agreement that releases Hall County Board of Education from any liability for injury or illness resulting from drugs and/or treatment. · Apply for reinstatement to the team after a minimum of four (4) weeks if the following provisions are met: (a) provide a negative drug screen to school administration; (b) agree to continue with drug counseling; (c) agree to be subjected to future testing on demand; and (d) understand that the application for reinstatement may be denied. The principal, head coach, and athletic director will decide on reinstatement. Third Positive A third positive screen will result in suspension from all interscholastic athletics for one calendar year from date of result. Parents or guardians and student-athlete will be notified immediately. Continued counseling and treatment during the year of suspension is expected with periodic testing at family's expense. Reinstatement procedures will remain constant, meaning they will have to go through the re-instatement process outlined in the Second Positive. · In the event the student-athlete believes this policy has not been applied to him/her in a manner consistent with the intent, the parents or guardians may appeal the decision to the principal of their school within 72 hours of a positive test result, and the principal's decision in this matter shall be final. This procedure is intended to supplement the existing policies of the Hall County Board of Education and the Georgia High School Association regarding the governance of interscholastic athletics. Administrators shall not use test results obtained pursuant to this policy for disciplinary or other purposes, other than as set forth above. All student-athletes remain subject to the Hall County Board of Education Student Code of Conduct and may be subject to established discipline procedures if found in possession or under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol at school or at school sponsored events. · In addition, parents (guardians) may make a request to have their student-athletes tested at their expense.