JACKSON TWP — Recent drug test results indicate the rates of substance use in Seneca Valley School District are lower than the national average, according to data collected by SPORT SAFE Testing Service, which conducts drug testing in school districts around the country.

At a school board meeting Monday, June 3, assistant superintendent Matthew McKinley discussed data collected from 4,342 drug tests taken during the 2023-24 school year, beginning in July 2023 and ending May 14.

McKinley said the district’s substance use rate, according to the data, is 1.7%. He said the testing company has reported a national average rate 4.3%. Students tested positive for marijuana and alcohol, he said.

According to Matthew Franz, director of operations for SPORT SAFE Testing Service, the test screens for myriad substances, including alcohol, amphetamines, methamphetamine, MDMA, benzodiazepines, cocaine, barbiturates, opiates, oxycodone/hydromorphone, marijuana, methadone, propoxyphene and phencyclidine. The test cannot distinguish between marijuana and medical marijuana.

The district’s policy states that a medical review officer reports positive findings to the parents and guardians, after which the result will be reported to the building principal.

“It’s that first call from the (medical review officer) to the parent/guardian when they typically learn and receive documentation of medical marijuana,” communications director Linda Andreassi said.

Board director Fred Peterson Jr. asked whether positive tests from medical marijuana can be subtracted from the district’s substance use rate. Medical marijuana refers to marijuana that is authorized under the state medical marijuana program, which requires authorization by a physician.

McKinley said under the testing company’s guidelines, positive medical marijuana tests must be included in the results. Without taking medical marijuana into account, the district’s positive testing rate would have dropped to between 1.5 and 1.6%, McKinley said.

“We work with families if they’re going about it the right way,” he said. “Now somebody could test positive for medical marijuana and not have the prescription.”

The district also conducted 230 follow up tests, 10% of which came back positive.

“When we do follow ups, we’re happy if the rate’s below 20%,” McKinley said.

According to district guidelines, student drivers, athletes and activity members are subject to random drug testing. The policy has been in place since 2001.

“We have students go through a drug assessment facility and follow through with whatever recommendations they recommend,” he said. “We have (students) do five follow up tests, and we want to see a reduced rate each time until it gets to zero again. Often we follow up with monthly tests. We can choose to do random (drug tests) if we have any suspicion anytime after that.”

Testing begins in seventh grade, superintendent Tracy Vitale said. Beginning in fifth grade, students and parents are encouraged to attend Reality Tour, an interactive skit-based event that discusses addiction, drug use and drug trends.

Vitale attributed low positive test results to early detection and a proactive approach to drug prevention.

“Fifth and sixth grade is not too early to begin talking,” she said. “As a matter of fact, it’s a key time, especially with social media.”