Dist. 127 on front lines of substance abuse

Grayslake High School District wants to prevent students from having drug or alcohol problems.

Toward that end, District 127 has created a new position of a full-time student substance abuse coordinator. Superintendent Catherine Finger said the employee will be hired for the 2008-09 academic year.

"It's something I've been very concerned about since coming on board," said Finger, who became District 127's superintendent in July 2005.

District 127 will join other Lake County high school systems with substance abuse coordinators. Among them are Antioch-Lake Villa High School District and Libertyville-Vernon Hills Area High School District.

Finger said District 127's substance abuse professional will work with students, families and teachers at Grayslake Central and North high schools.

Students will be able to approach the counselor confidentially if they believe they have alcohol or drug problems. Staffers also could contact the substance abuse coordinator if a student is suspected of having problems under the proactive approach being initiated at District 127, Finger said.

Should a pupil be suspected of a problem, the substance abuse coordinator's job would be to find appropriate intervention. Finger, who called alcohol "the drug of choice" in the Grayslake area, said the help could come from Lake County social agencies or a local substance abuse evaluation group.

District 127 has conducted random drug and alcohol testing on interscholastic athletes for several years. The district uses urinalysis and/or breath tests as part of its random screening of sports participants. Violators face possible disciplinary measures under an athletic code of conduct.