Substance Use Prevention & Early Intervention

ACPS Substance Use Prevention and Early Intervention Services

ACPS provides Substance Use Prevention and Early Intervention for schools K-12 through the Department of Student Services & Equity.  The Substance Use Prevention services include screenings, assessments, early intervention, targeted case management, and prevention campaigns. The Opportunity Seminar is a program under the Substance Abuse services at DSSE. The ACPS Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) abuse regulations guidelines mandates that students shall not possess, use, and/or distribute alcohol, tobacco and/or tobacco products, or other drugs on school property, on school buses, or during school activities, on or off school property. Parents and students can consult existing policies and regulations regarding Alcohol and other Drugs (AOD) at ACPS website.

Current AOD policies: 

• JFCF/JFCI
• JFCF-R/JFCI-R
• GBEC/JFCH/KGC
• plus the Standards of Student Conduct and JFC.

What AOD related behaviors?

• Possess and attempt to possess 
• Procure or attempt to procure
• Purchase or attempt to purchase
• Distribute or attempt to distribute
• Solicitation or attempt to solicit

Primary responsibility for helping students who are involved with substance abuse lies with students and their parents. Nevertheless, the Department of Student Services & Equity (DSSE) strives to implement a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) approach to providing a supportive school environment for students involved with substance use or abuse. As such, DSSE supports substance abuse prevention and early intervention programs that vary according to individual needs. Included among these are programs to educate students about the harmful effects of illegal drugs and alcohol; the misuse of drugs and other legal substances; programs for staff in the identification of substance abuse; and activities and programs for those who need help with intervention activities and programs. The department's substance abuse prevention and early intervention program may provide group experiences, individual counseling, and other programs. Additionally, referral of students and parents to community agencies for assistance, at the parent's expense, may also occur.