Quest Recovery and Prevention Services works with school districts to support Substance Abuse Policies and Disciplinary Procedures. We believe the goal of an effective Substance Abuse policy should be to:

1. Encourage the student and family to pursue professional assessment
2. Provide student with reachable goals regarding treatment compliance to reduce disciplinary procedures
3. Provide ongoing follow-up care once student has returned to school to monitor treatment compliance, behavior, grades and emotional status

Follow-up care to assess continuing treatment need is critical. A student with a diagnosis of alcohol, marijuana or poly-substance abuse/dependence has active addictive processes. They may be continuing to use secretively or be in the midst of mild to moderate post-acute withdrawal. Students who have previously used drugs or alcohol as a coping tool to deal with family, personal or school stress, but are now abstaining, may display irritability marked by conflicts or depression marked by apathy and isolation.

Working In Partnership With Schools
Quest has developed a model reciprocal relationship that can be deployed between our agency and area school districts to provide appropriate intervention for students who violate substance abuse policies. We take pride in accommodating the student and family’s schedule and can provide assessment and some services in school (with support from a designated official) or other locations in the teen’s “natural environment.”

The following is an example of our school-based model in action:

1. School encounters a student under the influence or in possession of a chemical substance

2. After subjecting student to due process, student is referred to appropriate administrator who arranges a parent/student conference. This may lead to enforcement of disciplinary procedures based on the school’s policy. These procedures may include:

• Automatic school suspension which may be contingent or reduced based on compliance to referral to Quest for assessment or treatment
• Notification of authorities
• Suspension or expulsion from school
• Insight activities or classes
• Urine drug tests
• Other

3. Once course of action and options are presented and accepted, an assessment appointment with Quest is scheduled. Parent and student arrange assessment as soon as possible. Upon completion of assessment and presentation of documentation, student suspension is reduced with remainder of suspended days held in escrow as inducement for compliance and follow-through of assessment recommendations.

4. School designates single point of contact for Quest to work with to monitor student’s compliance, behavior, grades and emotional status. School contact provides easy and confidential access to school for natural environment visits.

If you have questions about your district’s substance abuse policies or would like to discuss implementing the Quest model in your school district, contact our Adolescent Services Department.