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Policy Papers

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Attention all high school athletes, due to the recent exposure of the number of athletes that have been using drugs. The board has decided to change our drug policy. The following substances have all been banned for athletes: creatine, anabolic steroids, steroid precursors, ephedra and all stimulants. All these substances have specific health risks that are quite dangerous and could also be detrimental to their lives. Besides the health risks, these substances give athletes who use them an advantage over those who do not, creating an ethical dilemma for the coaches and athletes of Holy Innocents’. At Holy Innocents’, we are attempting to maintain a fair and safe environment for our student athletes to grow and prosper within their respective sports. The board is willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that students and coaches are following our new policy. There will be monthly drug tests for all athletes. We also keep the right to test any athlete, who we find suspicious, upon demand. Any athlete who fails a drug test will receive a fitting punishment. These punishments will range from suspension from upcoming games to expulsion from school. We hope that our athletes will adhere to our new policy. We firmly believe that this policy will be in the best interest for our school and athletes. Go Bears!


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Georgia Juice Heads Policy Paper 4/17/12

This year 57% of our student population have been involved with illegal substances. The Board of Illegal Drugs associated with Holy Innocents' feels that if students submit to regular drug test and random searches that they would learn to change from their ways and live more productive drug free lives. The new “No Illegal Substance Policy” aims only to prevent students from going down paths of destruction that could ruin their future. Our purpose is only to help. We know that the students might feel that their privacy is being violated but it is for the best.

Under the policy there are rules and stipulations that every student must follow. First students need to know what drugs aren’t allowed. Creatine, anabolic steroids, steroid precursors, Ephedra, and any other illegal drug are not permitted on school grounds period. Lots of students will probably want to know why we are banning these but we have a reason for each one. Many athletes use Creatine. Most football players have been caught with it in there bags. This substance is found in red meat, fish and is also made naturally in the body. There is nothing wrong with the natural Creatine but the use of the Creatine capsules and powders must stop immediately. Players have found that Creatine helps boost their performance in weightlifting and sprinting. It also decreases muscle fatigue. Even though they seem to help their long-term effects are horrible. There have been many cases of stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite, muscle cramps, and even weight gain. It also draws water away from important parts of your body, which causes dehydration. Athletes can also potentially injure their heart, kidneys and liver. Anabolic steroids are also highly used in school. This man made substance also helps improve the performance of athletes. Even students that aren’t athletes use it to enhance their appearance. What students may not know is that this drug immediately affects their brain. It disturbs both male and female sex hormone receptors. Continual use of this drug can lead to aggression and extreme mood swings. These manic like symptoms can also lead to violence, which is completely unacceptable. Steroid precursors are also on the list of drugs that aren’t allowed. These drugs can be converted into anabolic steroids. There are many types of steroid precursors such as: Androstenedione, androstenediol, norandrostenedione, norandrostenediol, and dehydroepiandrosterone. Students 9th thru 12th grade have been reported using these drugs and we have noticed an increase over the years. Rapid weight gain, changes in body build with noticeable muscle growth, bloated face, greater development of the upper body, increased acne, and changes in students voices are some immediate signs of drug use. Ephedra is another commonly abused drug in our school. Students use it to enhance their energy so student can stay awake in class and help with weight loss. This herb is considered natural to many students, so they don’t believe it’s harmful but it is. The effects of this drug can be lethal. Ephedra can cause dizziness, headaches, vomiting, fatigue, insomnia, memory loss, bleeding in the brain, heart attacks, seizures, strokes and even death. All stimulants are definitely not allowed! Methamphetamine, cocaine, and other such drugs are not allowed. These types of drugs create a temporary improvement of person’s mental or physical abilities. They can lead to decrease in hunger, high heart rate and high blood pressure. We just want our students to stop abusing drugs so that they can live long healthy productive lives. This program isn’t a punishment it is simply here to help and we expect each student to abide by the rules of the policy.

This policy will be strictly enforced and there will be no exceptions to the rules. The consequence for violating these policies is immediate expulsion. Violating this policy is absolutely unacceptable. Students will be called to the office and asked to hand over keys, bookbags and other items of suspicion. If we find any type of drug anywhere in your possession then we will be calling your parents. If we cannot reach your parents then we call the police and have you detained for possession of illegal drug on school property. I know this might seem severe but we have to get our message across to out student body. There are no acceptations to the rules! I really want to make this clear. If a student is caught they will definitely be expelled. Now if there is a set up or a valid reason for the drugs then we will look into the details. Also if you know information about drugs being on campus and withhold the information you will also be expelled. We will not tolerate any more drug abuse so we must take these drastic measures. We also want students to know that they will have to submit to random testing. In order to insure a drug free school we must test suspicious students. Students who constantly come to class late with out valid excuses will be tested. Students roaming the halls during the class period without permission will be tested. Students found in the parking lot or anywhere outside of school during school hours will be tested as well. We will initiate a student entrance into our school sporting events so to make sure students don’t try to use these events as an outlet. Every athlete no matter what sport will have to submit to 4 drug tests a year. One will be in the very beginning. The second and third one will be random. The final drug test will be given at the very end of the sports season. Your parents will have to sign each test that is administered. Teachers can request that students be tested but we will take in consideration students that have been requested multiple times by the same teacher. This policy is going to be in immediate effect as soon as possible and we expect students to follow the rules and trust that this is for the best.

We want safe environment for every student at our school. Every parent can agree that a safe environment is a good learning environment. High School is a crucial part of life and we believe that if we instill the idea of students prospering in school without drugs that they will be better off in the future. This is a policy built for success and we will make sure that students follow every rule. If there are any questions about the policy we ask that you log onto our website here at HI and let us know. A drug free student is a happy student and a drug free school can achieve great things as one strong unit.

I think this is a very good policy and it will be very effective. I think testing every kid that’s wandering in the hall, or late to class is a little too harsh. I think if it recurs a lot then they should be tested. It will really make the students think before they take these drugs. AP
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I like that your group took a hard stance on the issue of drugs in high schools sports. It is obviously a problem, and the methods of prevention in the past have not worked. I was wondering what type of test you all were planning on administering/how you would test for the drug (e.g. blood test, urine test, hair test, etc). Thanks! -Andrew Long

I think this is a great policy, however students walking in the halls and students that are found in the parking lot should not be judged so quickly. That seems a little harsh unless these scenarios are being performed constantly. If so then they should be questioned and tested. McKay Bolden