According to the California Healthy Kids Survey conducted in the fall of 2005:

• 16% of all 9th grade students and 30% of all 11th grade students in Orange County who participated in the survey responded that they had tried marijuana at least once in their lives.
• 9% of all 9th grade students and 14% of all 11th grade students in Orange County who participated in the survey responded that they had used marijuana in the last 30 days.
• 6% of 9th grade students and 27% of 11th grade students in Orange County who participated in the survey responded that they had been high from using drugs.
• 2% of 9th grade students and 3% of 11th grade students in Orange County who participated in the survey responded that they had used cocaine in the last 30 days.
• 2% of 9th grade students and 2% of 11th grade students in Orange County who participated in the survey responded that they had used methamphetamines or any amphetamines in the last 30 days.

According to the California Healthy Kids Survey conducted in the fall of 2007:

• 24% of 9th grade students and 30% of 11th grade students enrolled in Newport-Mesa Unified School District who participated in the survey responded that they had tried marijuana at least once in their lives.
• 15% of 9th grade students and 24% of 11th grade students enrolled in Newport-Mesa Unified School District who participated in the survey responded that they had used marijuana in the last 30 days.

According to the California Healthy Kids Survey conducted in the 2009-2010 school year:

• 26% of 9th grade students and 47% of 11th grade students enrolled in Newport-Mesa Unified School District who participated in the survey responded that they had tried marijuana at least once in their lives.
• 11% of 9th grade students and 24% of 11th grade students enrolled in Newport-Mesa Unified School District who participated in the survey responded that they had used marijuana in the last 30 days.

Drug and Alcohol offenses at Newport Harbor High School:

• 2005-2006 - 38
• 2006-2007 - 45
• 2007-2008 - 67
• 2008-2009 - 14
• 2009-2010 - 32
• 2010-2011 - 16
• 2011-2012 - 13

This data confirms that there is a need to continue educating our children about drug use and implement programs which promote deterrence, such as the Voluntary Drug Testing Program, to reduce teenage drug use.

• To reduce first time and repeat drug use among current Newport Harbor students.
• Provide our students the ability to avoid negative peer pressure by giving our students the power to say no when offered drugs because he or she is enrolled in a random drug testing program.
• Initiate dialogue between parents and their children about drug use because students would not be allowed to register for school without submitting a completed form indicating participation or nonparticipation in the drug testing program. Even if the parent and child decline to participate in the drug testing program, a meaningful conversation has occurred about drug use.

This program is designed to support our students in a positive manner and is not about “catching” kids doing drugs. Parents who elect to participate in the drug testing program will be giving their child a reason to “just say no”. Drug testing is a proven form of deterrence. The program is not designed to keep students out of athletics or other school activities. The school will not have any knowledge of the drug test results. Any problems that may come to light as a result of a drug test will be resolved by the parent and child.

1. All students and their parents complete the Voluntary Drug Testing Program form regardless of participation or non-participation and will return the form to the school during registration in August.
2. All forms indicating student and parent participation will be forwarded to California Youth Services of Orange County. The names of the students volunteering to be tested will be placed into a computerized lottery system generated and maintained by California Youth Services..
3. The school will notify California Youth Services as to how many students are to be tested each month.
4. A computer program will generate a random selection of students for voluntary drug testing. The list will be forwarded to the person designated at the school to administer the program.
5. A site at Newport Harbor High School will be provided for urine specimen collection. The students randomly selected will provide urine specimens in private. Parents will be notified if their student declines to provide a urine specimen on the assigned date.
6. The specimens will be transported to California Youth Services’s facility and tested. A Standard 5-Panel Test will identify marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, opiates, and PCP.
7. Results of the urinalysis will be available within 24 hours.

Negative Result: A letter will be mailed home to the parent stating their child was tested and no drugs were found.

Positive Result: The specimen will be sent to another laboratory for further testing which will confirm the drug and specific amount in the child’s body at the time the specimen was collected. California Youth Services will contact the parent directly via telephone and discuss the results, answer questions, and offer referrals if requested. Copies of the laboratory results are available to the parent.

All results are strictly confidential. The results of the drug screen are only available to parents/guardians. No school administrators, teachers, or coaches will have knowledge of the test results. Newport Harbor High School is simply the facilitator of the program. The school cannot influence the random selection.

For more information about the Voluntary Drug Testing Program, please contact
the Student Services Office at (949) 515-6314.