3418 - Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Use/Abuse

It is the policy of the Richland School District to provide a safe, healthy, and nurturing learning environment where students can learn, develop internal strengths, values, and self-esteem. The use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs can destroy the health and well-being of any individual. The use of controlled substances, except under medical supervision, is dangerous. Therefore, it is against school district policy to be in possession or under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or tobacco. 

A student shall not knowingly possess, attempt to possess or use, manufacture, be under the influence of, show evidence of having used except where authorized by medical prescription, offer for sale, attempt to sell, barter, transfer to other persons in the school, on school property, at any time the school or grounds are being used for a school activity or event, in district vehicles, at Richland School District bus stops, or while attending a school activity or school event off school grounds any prohibited drug(s) or alcohol. School events include, but are not limited to, athletic events and athletic team camps, co-curricular events and co-curricular camps, and incidents that occur within the proximity of the campus or have a nexus to school. Acts that occur off campus and/or after school hours will be judged by their effect upon the morale and operation of the school and whether they, in fact, are detrimental to the good order and to the welfare of the pupils. 

Prohibited drugs include, but are not limited to: 

1. Any controlled substance as defined by Washington state statute (RCW 69.50, Uniform Controlled Substances Act.) 
2. Any drug which applicable federal or state law states must be obtained by prescription only (RCW 69.41, Legend Drugs). 
3. Any drug not properly labeled for use by the person in possession of the drug. 
4. Prescription drugs that are not legally obtained or prescribed, are not being used for the prescribed purpose, are being used in excess of the prescribed amount, are being used by other than the person to whom prescribed, or are being sold, traded or distributed. 
5. Alternatives to illegal drugs such as designer or synthetic drugs, whether or not prohibited by law, which include, but are not limited to: herbal or plant products with properties that impair, restrict or alter normal cognitive function; herbal or chemical products containing synthetic marijuana (such as K2 or Spice) or synthetic cocaine or methamphetamine (such as bath salts); and any substance purported to, designed to, or which does impair, restrict, or alter cognitive function when absorbed, ingested, injected, or inhaled. 
6. Any “look alike” drug or substance believed or represented as being a drug or controlled substance. 
7. Drug paraphernalia. 
8. Inhalants. 
9. Anabolic steroids. 
10. Alcohol or other intoxicant of any kind. 

In a manner consistent with RCW 69.50 (Uniform Controlled Substances Act) the following terms shall be defined as: 

1. Controlled Substance – a drug, substance or immediate precursor included in schedules I through V as set forth in federal or state laws, or federal or board rules. Likewise schedules I through IV (RCW 69.50 Art.II), list common “drugs” including opiates, hallucinogens, stimulants, narcotics as well as derivative analogs. 
2. Controlled Substance Analog – any substance that has a chemical structure similar to that of controlled substances. 
3. Imitation Drugs – a substance that is not a controlled substance but which by appearance and representation would lead a reasonable person to believe that the substance is a controlled substance. Manufacture – the production, preparation, propagation, compounding, conversion or processing of a controlled substance, either directly or indirectly or by extraction from substances of natural origin 
4. Under the Influence – an abnormal mental or physical condition due to the influence, a visible impairment of the judgment or a derangement, or impairment of mental or physical function or energies arising there from 
5. Delivery – the actual or constructive transfer from one person to another of a substance, whether or not there is an agency relationship 
6. Legend Drugs – “prescription” medication including, but not limited to, steroids and other performance enhancing medications. Possession of prescription drugs without a prescription is unlawful. 
7. Drug Paraphernalia – all equipment, products and materials of any kind which are used, intended for use, or designed for use in planting, propagating, cultivating, growing, harvesting, manufacturing, compounding, converting, producing, processing, preparing, testing, analyzing, packaging, repackaging, storing, containing, concealing, injecting, ingesting, inhaling, or otherwise introducing into the human body a controlled substance. 
8. Possession – having control over an item with intent to have and to exercise control over the item. 

In an effort to restrict tobacco usage and in compliance RCW 28A.210.310, the Richland School District shall notify both students and school personnel of the prohibition of tobacco use. Sanctions for both students and school personnel who violate the policy shall be enforced. Furthermore, signs prohibiting the use and possession of tobacco products shall be posted at all Richland School District sites. 

Students are prohibited from using and/or possessing tobacco, tobacco products, electronic cigarette, e-cigarette, or vaporize cigarette, nicotine, nicotine-delivering substances, chemicals or devices that produce the same flavor or physical effect of nicotine substitutes, and any other “tobacco innovation”. 

Violation of this policy constitutes cause for discipline of a student. The District reserves the right to refer to law-enforcement authorities any act or conduct relating to this policy which may constitute a crime under any federal, state, county or local law. 

I. Alcohol and Drugs 

STUDENTS IN POSSESSION, SALE/BARTER, TRANSFER, POSSESSION OF PARAPHERNALIA, AND/OR EXHIBITING THE EFFECTS (BEING UNDER THE INFLUENCE) OF ALCOHOL, CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, INHALANTS, ANABOLIC STEROIDS, OR IMITATION DRUGS ON CAMPUS, AT ANY SCHOOL-SPONSORED ACTIVITY OR EVENT, OR WHILE ATTENDING A SCHOOL ACTIVITY OR EVENT OFF SCHOOL GROUNDS, OR IN A DISTRICT VEHICLE ARE IN VIOLATION OF THIS POLICY. SCHOOL EVENTS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, ATHLETIC EVENTS AND ATHLETIC TEAM CAMPS, CO-CURRICULAR EVENTS AND CO-CURRICULAR CAMPS, RICHLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT BUS STOPS, AND INCIDENTS THAT OCCUR WITHIN THE PROXIMITY OF THE CAMPUS OR HAS A NEXUS TO SCHOOL. ACTS THAT OCCUR OFF CAMPUS AND/OR AFTER SCHOOL HOURS WILL BE JUDGED BY ITS EFFECT UPON THE MORALE AND OPERATION OF THE SCHOOL AND WHETHER IT, IN FACT, IS DETRIMENTAL TO THE GOOD ORDER AND TO THE WELFARE OF THE PUPILS. 

Any student who displays indicators of consumption of alcohol, intoxicants, drugs (illegal or illegally used drugs), and/or any other controlled substances is subject to discipline prescribed in this policy. Any student who possesses drug paraphernalia is subject to the same consequences as drug possession or usage. 

A. First Offense 

1. Possession, Being under the Influence*, Transfer, or Possession of Paraphernalia 

* A building administrator and a minimum of one (1) additional adult supervisor will determine if reasonable suspicion exists. 

2. Sale/Barter 

This violation is considered to be inherently harmful and students who engage in this activity are deemed to be a danger not only to themselves but also to all other students and staff in the Richland Schools. 

• Recommendation of an assessment by a qualified substance abuse counselor. 
• Improved student behavior since the removal from school. 
• Willingness of the student and parent to agree, as appropriate, to a reasonable behavioral agreement. 

B. Second Offense 

1. Possession, Being under the Influence, Transfer, or Possession of Paraphernalia 

2. Sale/Barter 

C. Third Offense 

1. Possession, Being under the Influence, Transfer, or Possession of Paraphernalia 

No record of a student's participating in professional treatment services will become a part of the permanent record or transcript. Any and all related information will be treated as health related only and kept in confidentially maintained health files. 

II. Tobacco 

STUDENTS ARE PROHIBITED FROM BEING IN POSSESSION OF, AND/OR USING OR DELIVERYING TOBACCO ON CAMPUS, AT ANY SCHOOL-SPONSORED ACTIVITY OR EVENT, OR WHILE ATTENDING A SCHOOL ACTIVITY OR EVENT OFF SCHOOL GROUNDS OR IN A DISTRICT VEHICLE ARE IN VIOLATION OF THIS POLICY. SCHOOL EVENTS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, ATHLETIC EVENTS AND ATHLETIC TEAM CAMPS, CO-CURRICULAR EVENTS AND CO-CURRICULAR CAMPS, RICHLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT BUS STOPS, AND INCIDENTS THAT OCCUR WITHIN THE PROXIMITY OF THE CAMPUS OR HAS A NEXUS TO SCHOOL. ACTS THAT OCCUR OFF CAMPUS AND/OR AFTER SCHOOL HOURS WILL BE JUDGED BY ITS EFFECT UPON THE MORALE AND OPERATION OF THE SCHOOL AND WHETHER IT, IN FACT, IS DETRIMENTAL TO THE GOOD ORDER AND TO THE WELFARE OF THE PUPILS. 

Recognizing the serious physical effects of all tobacco products and the fact that it is illegal to have tobacco on school district property, the District maintains the following procedures for students possessing, consuming, or delivering tobacco in any form. 

A. First Offense 

1. One (1) day in-school suspension. 
2. Student may be required to speak to District staff about the health risk of tobacco use. 
3. A copy of the letter of violation shall be permanently placed in the student's cumulative file. 

B. Second Offense 

1. Five (5) day out of school suspension. 
2. A copy of the letter of suspension shall be permanently placed in the student's cumulative file. 

C. Third Offense 

1. Ten (10) day out of school suspension. 
2. A copy of the letter of suspension shall be permanently placed in the student's cumulative file. 

D. Fourth Offense 

1. Long term suspension. 
2. A copy of the letter of suspension shall be permanently placed in the student's cumulative file.