HIGH SCHOOL TAKES RIGHT STEP WITH DRUG POLICY

Winnacunnet High School improved its student drug and alcohol policy
last week by adding a counseling and education component.

The existing policy was tough - any student caught with drugs or
alcohol at the school received an automatic 10-day suspension.

The new policy allows students to buy back five of those days of
suspension if they agree to take part in the Student Assistance
Program, which offers drug and alcohol counseling at no charge.

The student must also participate in the Seacoast Youth Services
Drug and Alcohol Education group.

The policy is an improvement because simply suspending a student is
not enough. There is no guarantee that the student will think about
his or her mistake and find ways to avoid repeating it in the future.

Drugs and alcohol are everywhere in our society, and high schools
are certainly no exception. All our children face tough choices
every day when it comes to drug and alcohol use. Simply saying they
are bad and punishing those who use them is not enough. Our
young men and women need to understand that decisions made under
the influence of drugs and alcohol are usually bad decisions. And
bad decisions made under the influence can destroy lives.

Students who get mixed up with drugs and alcohol in high school are
not likely to stop using them simply because they were suspended.
They need to understand the dangers and make better choices for
themselves. The new WHS drug and alcohol policy is a step in the
right direction.

- - The Hampton Union