At the end of 2021, UCLA Health reported over 1,100 adolescent deaths due to drug overdose, with the National Institute on Drug Abuse recording over 4.1 million high school students who had used an illicit substance in 2022.

Although always an issue faced by high schools throughout the US, prevalent drug abuse among adolescents saw a major increase as early as the 1960s and has only grown since then.

The drug policy at Bernards High School has been a topic of debate for some time now, with a lot of recent discussion regarding the revision/adjustment of the policies which many find to be outdated and draconian.

Most notably, Dr. Neigel has spoken strongly in regard to the necessity of the alterations of some sections of the policy, specifically those regarding the possession and use of controlled substances, which he finds to be particularly ineffective and even counter-productive to the policy’s ultimate goal: to deter and help students in need. “While the policy does a great job at providing remedial measures for students,” says Dr. Neigel, “some of its consequences are overly severe.” Cases of possession are not as rare as they seem at first glance either. Dr. Corbett said that “as long as there is reasonable suspicion of possession” BHS faculty may legally search students, making cases of possession easier to detect.

As the policy stands, a first-time offense for the possession of a controlled substance on BHS grounds would warrant a ten to twenty-day suspension with a second offense seeing that increase to a forty-five to ninety-day suspension. Dr. Neigel stated that in its current state, the severe policies and regulations do not provide enough distinction between offenses (each circumstance is unique), and also heavily impede upon the flexibility of the school and BOE to issue appropriate consequences for each circumstance.

For reference, neighboring schools including Basking Ridge High School, Chatham High School, Mendham High School, and many more, see first-time possession consequences ranging from a one to six-day suspension, with a second-time offense seeing suspensions in the ranges of five to fifteen days. As a matter of fact, the Bernards High School drug policy has some of the most drastic consequences in the county.

Revising the policy, however, is no easy task and will take time. Any and all changes to school policy must be approved by the BOE and read at three separate meetings before they can finally be approved, and as the BOE meets only once a month, BHS will not see any changes to its drug policy until the end of the 2023-2024 school year, if they are approved.

Despite its flaws, the BHS drug and alcohol policy is still ultimately designed to help students struggling with substance abuse. Dr. Neigel particularly commended the policy’s ability to provide a full drug and alcohol evaluation (if tested positive), as well as remedial measures and treatment to help students get back to a safer lifestyle.