Long Island Schools Employ New Tactics To ID Intoxicated Students

BOHEMIA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- School districts on Long Island are getting a lesson in drugs. Faculty members and parents are learning how to spot signs of drug use among students.

This means that your teenager's next visit to the school nurse could end up with the type of diagnostic test that is typically seen at DUI checkpoints.

The Connetquot School District signed up for the training because figuring out what someone is high on is a guessing game. So,  specially trained drug recognition experts with the Suffolk County Police Department are teaching educators.

Educators were given a simulation of how it feels to be impaired. School nurse Mary-Ellen Fuellbier told CBS 2's Carolyn Gusoff on Wednesday that the training is essential.

"It's being realistic and preventive," Fuellbier said.

Teachers are instructed to send students that they suspect to be intoxicated to the nurse's office. School officials said that their goal is not to call law enforcement but to keep their students safe and out of trouble.

If a student is believed to be impaired, their parents will be notified and the student will not be allowed to drive home.

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