SRO Drug & Violence Prevention 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A student is caught selling prescription Adderall to classmates. Under the Controlled Substances Act, Adderall is classified as a:
- Schedule III controlled substance
- Schedule IV controlled substance
- Schedule II controlled substance (Correct answer)
- Schedule V controlled substance
Correct answer: Schedule II controlled substance
Adderall (amphetamine/dextroamphetamine) is a Schedule II substance due to its high potential for abuse and dependence.
Question 2: Which school climate factor has the strongest research support for reducing student drug use and violence?
- Strict dress code enforcement
- Strong student-adult connectedness and sense of belonging (Correct answer)
- Longer school days with more academic time
- Zero-tolerance suspension policies
Correct answer: Strong student-adult connectedness and sense of belonging
Research consistently shows that students who feel connected to school and trusted adults are significantly less likely to engage in substance use or violence.
Question 3: When an SRO conducts a search of a student's backpack based on reasonable suspicion, the search must be:
- Approved by a judge in advance
- Reasonably related in scope to the circumstances that justified it (Correct answer)
- Witnessed by a parent or guardian
- Limited to the outermost pockets only
Correct answer: Reasonably related in scope to the circumstances that justified it
Under New Jersey v. T.L.O., a school search must be justified at its inception and reasonable in scope to the infraction suspected.
Question 4: A student in crisis due to substance use should first be referred to which resource within the school?
- School resource officer for immediate arrest
- School counselor or student assistance program (Correct answer)
- Principal for suspension hearing
- Local emergency room without parental notification
Correct answer: School counselor or student assistance program
Student assistance programs and school counselors are trained to provide immediate support and connect students with treatment resources.
Question 5: Which of the following behaviors represents a 'pathway' warning sign — indicating progression toward targeted school violence — rather than a static risk factor?
- A history of childhood trauma
- A student acquiring weapons after making grievance statements (Correct answer)
- Low academic achievement over multiple years
- Living in a high-crime neighborhood
Correct answer: A student acquiring weapons after making grievance statements
Pathway behaviors show escalating steps toward violence, such as acquiring means after communicating grievances — a dynamic and urgent warning.
Question 6: During drug awareness education, an SRO explains the difference between physical dependence and addiction. Addiction is BEST defined as:
- The body's need for increasing doses to achieve the same effect
- A compulsive pattern of drug use despite harmful consequences (Correct answer)
- Withdrawal symptoms when drug use stops
- First-time use of any illicit substance
Correct answer: A compulsive pattern of drug use despite harmful consequences
Addiction is characterized by compulsive drug-seeking behavior and continued use despite significant negative consequences.
Question 7: An SRO is implementing a restorative justice approach for a student involved in a minor fight. Which outcome best reflects restorative justice principles?
- Automatic suspension followed by an expulsion hearing
- Mandatory transfer to an alternative school
- Facilitated dialogue between the parties, acknowledgment of harm, and a repair agreement (Correct answer)
- Criminal charges filed immediately to deter future misconduct
Correct answer: Facilitated dialogue between the parties, acknowledgment of harm, and a repair agreement
Restorative justice focuses on repairing harm through dialogue and accountability rather than purely punitive consequences.
SRO Drug & Violence Prevention 5
A student is caught selling prescription Adderall to classmates.
Under the Controlled Substances Act, Adderall is classified as a: