Nicole del Cardayre | Staff Writer | “Hey, do you have any Advil?”
One of the most commonly asked questions throughout the school day.
Headaches, cramps or a mild fever are all onset inconveniences that can cause a huge annoyance at school. Many school districts have made it against school policy to carry medication of any kind on campus.
According to Schoolgovernance.net, schools generally do not administer medication to students which have not been specifically prescribed by a medical practitioner for a particular student with a particular medical condition. “Whenever I need an Advil, I have to go down to the office and call my mom so that she can approve my request to the health aide,” said Josh Fong, a junior.
According to FindLaw.com, most states have enacted laws that give school systems and school boards the authority to implement local policies regarding the distribution of medication on school grounds. Those regulations and policies, however, must be coherent with those of the state laws regarding “unauthorized practice of medicine.”
“As a student, I get headaches or sometimes don’t feel the greatest and need an Advil during class. I think it is a little ridiculous to make one walk all the way to the health aide in order to obtain a small pill that many families carry in their homes,” said junior Jake Stulbarg.
At Baker Junior High in Dayton Ohio, Erica Taylor, 13, was suspended for nine days because she was carrying Midol, the non-prescription drug that relieves pain associated with menstrual periods. Taylor received the pill from her classmate Kimberly Smart. Smart then served a 10-day suspension and was further notified that she was being expelled.
“The precautions that were took and the level of sensitivity to this subject I feel is very controversial. In some cases I think it is ok to share a common medication but not always,” said Fong.
California's Education Code Section 49423 states that if a student has a medication prescribed by his or her physician, then the student may take the medication during the school day if they follow the Code’s guidelines.
The Code states that the student must have a written prescription from his or her physician and as well one from their current guardian authorizing the use of their medication. The student may then take the medication from the school’s health aide or nurse.
“I don’t know how strict Carlmont’s policies are regarding the distribution and sharing of medication, specifically Advil. Many students do share medications like Advil as most don’t consider it a risky thing because of its popularity among most houses,” said sophomore Sarah Brown.
Sammy Gingher, Carlmont’s health aide, stated that Carlmont has a no tolerance policy regarding the use of medication on campus that has not been registered through the office.
“No medication can be shared whatsoever, if you have to take a certain medication on campus the then the parents and physician have to fill out. All medications have to be in a sealed bag even if it's something as simple as Neosporin,” said Gingher.
Carlmont’s policy towards medication has few exceptions regarding the use of personal medication on campus. “The only exception of medication that students may carry on their person are inhalers and EpiPens,” said Gingher. At many schools, including Baker Junior High in Dayton Ohio, expulsion and suspension are measures that are taken when dealing with the matter of shared medication on school grounds. “If I feel that the student was unaware of the medication policy I will confiscate the medication and remind them of Carlmont’s policies. However on a second offense, the medication will be confiscated and administration will become involved depending on how severe the case is,” said Gingher.