Dear Parents and Guardians,
We share with you an important decision that strengthens Elyria Catholic High School’s commitment to the health and safety of our students. Beginning with the 2021-22 school year, Elyria Catholic will expand drug testing from student-athletes to all students.
According to MedlinePlus, teenage brains grow and develop until their mid-20s. Drug abuse can affect the prefrontal cortex, impacting developmental processes and decision-making. The earlier young people start using drugs, the greater the chance they will continue to use them and become addicted. Our goal is to discourage student drug use and give students a reason to turn down an offer to participate in drug use. Another goal of the expanded drug-testing program is to assist those struggling with continued use and addiction, particularly with the increased teen activities of vaping tobacco and marijuana.
In October, we will require all students to submit a small hair sample. The 50 mg (width of a pencil tip), one and one-half inch sample of head hair detects three months of drug use. The hair samples, collected by cosmetologists, will be submitted to an outside service, Psychemedics Corporation, whose drug tests have been used in schools since 1997. Random testing for students will occur periodically for the remainder of the school year.
Students will be tested for the following drugs:
Cocaine
Opioids
Extended opioids (including Oxycodone, Oxymorphone, Hydrocodone, Hydromorphone)
PCP
Amphetamines
Marijuana
Nicotine
Positive test results will be made known to the principal and assistant principal, who will notify the student’s parents or guardians. For the first positive test result, students will need to meet with a certified chemical dependency counselor or with an agency certified by the Ohio Department of Health or the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services for chemical dependency assessment and follow the counselor’s recommendations. The parents and guardians are responsible for all expenses and for providing administrators with documentation that the student completed all recommendations of the counselor. Repeated positive test results may result in increased chemical dependency counseling, suspension, or ultimately expulsion of the student.
The expanded policy helps deter drug use, assists students who struggle with addiction towards recovery and rehabilitation, and provides an equitable testing policy for all Elyria Catholic students. We will share information about drug testing during class meetings Monday, August 30, and answer any questions students may have.
Mr. Tom Taylor, Assistant Principal, is overseeing the program and welcomes your questions; he may be reached at taylor@elyriacatholic.com or 440-230-8603. We look forward to partnering with you to provide a healthy future for your student and a healthy environment for Elyria Catholic.
Sincerely,
Annie Heidersbach, President
Suzanne Lester, Principal
