Most high schools in the United States address student drug use with a zero tolerance drug policy that may include expulsion, suspension and exclusion from extracurricular activities. Proponents of these zero tolerance policies argue that firm punishment will deter most youth from engaging in forbidden activities, but national drug surveys show us each year that harsh disciplinary policies have failed to reduce rates of tobacco, alcohol or illicit drug use among students. The Drug Policy Alliance supports replacing failed zero tolerance policies with honest, reality-based drug education and programs to assist students exhibiting patterns of substance misuse.
UpFront programs work to increase understanding of drugs and their effects, support responsible behavior, and reduce risk and harm. They design drug education programs based on mutual respect and openness between students and educators, with an emphasis on student involvement.
Global Commission on Drug Policy
The Global Commission, whose members include Kofi Annan and four former presidents, calls the drug war a failure and advocates a paradigm shift in global drug policy. The commission's bold recommendations include encouraging governments to experiment with legalization of drugs, particularly marijuana; putting an end to drug policies being driven by ideology and politics; and directing resources away from arresting and incarcerating so many people for drug law violations.
Legislators appreciate hearing from their constituents, and they are elected to represent our views. Always give your legislator your name, address, and telephone number so that they know you are one of their constituents. Be sure to include this information whether you visit in person, call, or write.
When you contact your legislators, a short sentence or two about why you personally support or oppose a certain proposal is fine.
Most importantly, always be courteous and clear when communicating with your legislators. Remember, legislators are people, too!
American Academy of Pediatrics
This policy statement outlines the American Academy of Pediatrics’ opposition to random student drug testing and its position that the appropriate response to the suspicion of drug abuse by a young person is the referral to a qualified health care professional for a comprehensive evaluation.
SSDP mobilizes and empowers young people to participate in the political process, pushing for sensible policies to achieve a safer and more just future, while fighting back against counterproductive drug war policies, particularly those that directly harm students and youth.
The Dignity in Schools Campaign unites parents, youth, educators and advocates in a campaign to promote local and national alternatives to a culture of zero-tolerance, punishment and removal.
This 11-minute DVD showcases the Student Assistance Program in Oakland High School run by UpFront program founder Chuck Ries. As a companion to our publication, "Beyond Zero Tolerance: A Reality-Based Approach to Drug Education and Student Assistance," this video brings to life the Safety First approach to school-based drug education in secondary schools.
In this study published by the RAND Corporation, the authors examine the social benefits of school-based drug prevention programs.
In this paper written for The Hamilton Fish Institute’s 2007 National Conference on Safe Schools, Rodney Skager argues that it is time to abandon infantilization policies and zero tolerance ideology in the treatment of youth. He outlines an approach to drug education that promotes mutually respectful interaction between young people and the adults who deliver it.
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