• Every school district must establish an advisory team to address chemical abuse problems in the district.

• Districts must identify treatment and counseling programs, and educate the community about these resources.

• Districts must adopt written procedures to deal with substance abuse by a student. These procedures must include contact with the student and contact with a parent or guardian.

• Each school must have a chemical use pre-assessment team that responds to reports of substance abuse. The team must decide whether to connect the child to counseling and treatment resources.

• Teachers who know or have reason to believe a student is using, possessing or selling alcohol or a controlled substance at school or a school related event must report this to the school pre-assessment team.

• Minors may give consent for medical or mental health services related to drug and alcohol abuse. Parental consent is not required.

• School records related to chemical abuse must be destroyed 6 months after the team decides treatment is not necessary or 6 months after the child leaves the district.

• Students may be expelled for violations of the school district’s drug policy. Schools must comply with the procedures in the Minnesota Pupil Fair Dismissal Act, including the right to a hearing and alternative educational services.

• Schools may require students to have a chemical dependency assessment, but may not suspend them indefinitely until they do so. Indefinite suspensions violate the Pupil Fair Dismissal Act.

• If a student is expelled for using, selling or possessing a controlled substance at school, another school district may refuse enrollment during the term of the expulsion.

• Students are subject to drug laws whether they are in or outside of school.

• If they have a reasonable belief that a student has violated a drug law, law enforcement agencies are required to inform the chemical use pre-assessment team in the school where the child is enrolled.

• Penalties for violating drug laws are more severe when the violation occurs in a School Zone.

• In some circumstances, drug offenses can lead to deportation for non-citizens.

• Students who are convicted of possession or sale of a controlled substance will become ineligible for federal financial aid. Ineligibility for the first offense is 1-2 years. For a second offense for sale, the ineligibility is of indefinite duration.

• Many colleges and universities will ask students about their past criminal history on the college applications. While a drug conviction will not necessarily bar admission, it might require explanation.

MinnesotaHelp is an information and referral provider that can help you find and connect with services.

Minnesota Department of Human Services

Treatment Programs & Facilities

Residential treatment centers or outpatient treatment centers can help answer questions and have specialists who can help get you connected with assessment services.

Chemical Dependency Services (Ramsey County)

Provides chemical use assessments and referrals at little or no cost, as well as referrals to Group Residential Housing for eligible persons with chemical dependency.

Treatment resources for co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders are also available through the Chemical Health Unit.

Call (651) 266-4008 to schedule an assessment with the Chemical Health Unit.

Call (651) 266-4009 to reach the Detox Center.

African American Family Services

Outpatient substance abuse treatment and related services.

1041 Selby Ave.

St. Paul, MN 55104

(651) 642-0021

Mental health and substance abuse services.

1600 University Avenue West

St. Paul, MN 55104

Intakes: (651) 209-6632

Juel Fairbanks Chemical Dependency Services Inc.

Outpatient substance abuse treatment services, halfway house.

806 North Albert Street

St. Paul, MN 55104

Primary focus: Substance abuse treatment services

Type of care: outpatient and halfway house

Chicanos Latinos Unidos En Servicio

Outpatient mental health and substance abuse services.

220 South Robert Street

St. Paul, MN 55107

(651) 292-0117

The District can provide pre-assessments, crisis intervention, individual counseling, chemical health case plans, and consultation and referral services.

An alternative high school designed to help recovering youth maintain sobriety.

Conduct chemical use pre-assessments.

-Provide short-term counseling and referral to students and their families.

-Help students and their families when a student enters chemical use treatment.

Designed to meet the various chemical and mental health needs of the students, families and staff in the District.

For more information, contact Judy Voight (651) 604-3746.

Provides education for recovering teens in a chemical-free setting.

Sobriety High East (Maplewood) and Sobriety High South (Burnsville)

United State Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

Safety 1st –contains facts and information about drugs, and provides practical methods for reducing drug abuse.

National Institute on Drug Abuse – clearinghouse for information on drug abuse that contains separate information for students and young adults.

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

Minors may give consent for medical or mental health services related to alcohol or drug abuse. Parental consent is not required. Minn. Stat. § 144.343

If they have a reasonable belief a student has violated a drug law, law enforcement agencies are required to inform the chemical use pre-assessment team in the school where the student is enrolled. Minn. Stat. 121A.28

School districts must establish a school and community advisory team to address chemical abuse problems in the district.

The team must educate the community, identify treatment and counseling programs, and develop relationships with community agencies.

They must also develop a written procedure clarifying the notification procedure when a student is believed to be in possession of or under the influence of a controlled substance.

At a minimum, this must include contact with the student and the student’s parent or guardian. Minn. Stat. 121A.27.

Each school must have a chemical abuse pre-assessment team. Within 45 days of a reported case, the team must make a determination about whether to provide the student with information about school and community resources for substance abuse. Minn. Stat. 121A.26

Records related to chemical abuse shall be destroyed either; six months after the determination that treatment is not necessary is made or six months after the student is no longer enrolled in the district. Minn. Stat. 121A.26

A teacher who knows or has reason to believe a student is using, possessing or selling alcohol or a controlled substance at school or a school related event, shall report the incident to the school pre-assessment team. Minn. Stat. 121A.29

A district may refuse enrollment during the term of the expulsion to a pupil who was expelled for possessing, selling or using a controlled substance at school. Minn. Stat. 124D.03

Students who are convicted of possession or sale of a controlled substance will become ineligible for federal financial aid. Ineligibility for the first offense is 1-2 years, and for a second offense for sale, the ineligibility is indefinite. 28 U.S.C §1091(r)

There are enhanced penalties for violating drug laws at school or within 1000 feet of a school. 21 U.S.C § 860

A conviction for drug possession can, at the court’s discretion, make the offender ineligible for government benefits for one year. 21 U.S.C § 862(b)