South Tahoe High School prioritizes student well-being, providing extensive resources to address substance use. This webpage details both the school's intervention procedures and the support services available within STHS and the broader South Lake Tahoe community. Very Important: Students are encouraged to access resources prior to any disciplinary involvement. While awareness of potential consequences is important, our primary focus is proactive support, helping students address challenges before they escalate.
STHS Resources
STHS Wellness Center: supports the mental health and wellness needs of STHS students, providing a range of services including crisis support, individual and group therapy, and other therapeutic interventions. The center is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., conveniently located on the STHS campus.
Brief Intervention Program: is a short-term intervention program that consists of 2-4 sessions with adolescent youth or young adults who are experimenting with tobacco, alcohol, and/or other drug use, but are not yet dependent. The program is designed for use by school counselors, nurses, social workers, educators, school administrators, paraprofessionals, and other youth-serving adults who are working in school, or government settings. The model integrates evidence-based approaches, including the Stages of Change Model, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing.
Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) Alcohol, Tabacco and Drug Policy): The possession or use of any controlled substance, designer or synthetic drug or naturally occurring drug, alcohol or any tobacco products, e-cigarettes or other product that delivers a drug, nicotine or mimics the reaction of nicotine without a prescription from a physician by a student athlete, whether it occurs on or off school property, is prohibited and shall result in penalties. Please refer to the NIAA website, NIAA Alcohol, Tobacco and Drug Policy.
Community Resources
Mountain High Recovery Center (MHRC): is a local non-profit organization that offers individuals and families substance use prevention/education services and treatment of substance use disorders. At STHS, MHRC offers an Alcohol and Drug (AOD) group and/or individual sessions for youth that have been identified as benefitting from such services. To find out more about the types of counseling services they offer and how to receive them, please follow this link https://www.mountainhighrecovery.org/.
Tahoe Youth & Family Services (TYFS): is a private non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the healthy development of children, families, and individuals through counseling, mentoring, and support programs. To find out more about the types of counseling services they offer and how to receive them, please follow this link http://www.tahoeyouth.org/counseling.html.
El Dorado County Health and Human Services Agency Substance Use Disorder Services (SUDS): The El Dorado County Behavioral Health-Substance Use Disorder Services provides a range of substance use treatment and recovery support services for El Dorado County Medi-Cal beneficiaries and low-income uninsured community members. To find out more about the types of programs they offer and how to contact them, please follow this link https://www.eldoradocounty.ca.gov/SUDS
RJ Counseling: An Outpatient addiction recovery center located in South Lake Tahoe, California. They provide a variety of counseling modalities.To find out more about the services that they provide, please follow this link https://rjcounseling.com/.
Barton Health: Partners with organizations within El Dorado County and California to provide patient-centered treatment services. To find out more about the services that they provide, please follow this link https://www.bartonhealth.org/health-services/addiction-recovery/
STHS Consequences for Possession or Use:
- 1-3 day suspension/On-Campus Suspension
- School Site Brief Intervention Program
- Referral to the Wellness Center
- Referral to School Resource Officer
- Student ineligible for athletics for four competitive weeks of competition, may be waived if the student completes the substance abuse intervention program
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2nd Staff Referral:
- 5-day suspension/On-Campus Suspension
- Referral to Mountain High Recovery Center
- Referral into Tier 2 Intervention (including a daily check-in and check-out if needed)
- Referral to School Resourse Officer
- Student ineligible for athletics for six competitive weeks of competition, referral to the NIAA Drug and Alcohol olicy