School Related

Drug Recognition and Intervention in Schools

Length of Seminar: 2 Days
Instructor: Tim McClure

Course Overview:
Can your teachers, administrators and school staff tell from a student’s eyes that she’s/he’s on cocaine or heroin? Can they recognize ecstasy? Do they know that a colorless and odorless liquid called GHB can kill as fast as arsenic?

And if you suspect that your students are selling or using drugs, do you know what kind of drug search is legal? Can you conduct random drug tests? Do you know the difference between reasonable suspicion and probable cause?

Your best efforts to educate your students can be undermined by drug abuse, which contributes to excessive absences from school, failing grades, disruption in the classroom and damage to student morale.

The Public Agency Training Council can train school personnel to recognize and identify drugs of abuse and associated paraphernalia.

We also will teach you to recognize the signs of abuse; to investigate reports of drug use; and to deal with the problem in a legal and effective manner. And you’ll learn to develop effective anti-drug policies and prevention programs.

Why Attend?
This course of instruction will provide you with the information you need to competently address drug issues at your school and to implement a comprehensive plan of action. You will become familiar with the appearance of drugs and their effects and you will learn the telltale signs of abuse. Furthermore, you will learn how to prevent drug abuse and, if necessary, to investigate reports of drug possession and dealing.

Upon Completion

1. Scope of the Drug Problem - you will know how extensive the drug problem is and when children are most susceptible to drug use.

2. Drug Identification - you will know what illicit drugs look like, how they are packaged and how associated paraphernalia appears.

3. Drug Effects - you will know how drugs are used and what effects they have on the user.

4. Signs of Abuse - you will know the telltale signs of abuse so that you can recognize a drug user.

5. School Search Issues - you will know the basic legal guidelines for student searches, the proper procedures for conducting a search for contraband and procedures for using drug dogs.

6. Drug Investigations - you will know how to thoroughly investigate and document reports of drug possession and dealing on school grounds.

7. School Drug Policy Issues - you will know how to work with your local police to maximize your anti-drug efforts. Furthermore, you will know what policies and prevention strategies are most effective to combat drug use at your school.

8. Media Relations - you will know the most effective methods for dealing with the media if a drug issue arises at your school.