Four members of the undefeated Clarkston Wolves watched their football season go up in smoke last week when each was cited for possession and use of marijuana after practice Mon., Sept. 17.
A fifth CHS student who does not play football was also involved.
The boys, who are not being identified by The Clarkston News because of their age, were discovered after a neighbor called to complain about an ongoing problem of teens drinking in a wooded area off Brookwood Drive, near M-15 and I-75.
According to police reports, a deputy dispatched to the scene observed several juvenile males smoking, and detected the odor of marijuana as he approached.
All five attempted to walk away, but cooperated when instructed to stop.
Plastic bags, an undisclosed amount of marijuana, and small scale were confiscated, and the youth were transported to Independence Township substation, questioned and released to their parents.
Police wrote juvenile petitions for the 16-year-old students, and issued an appearance citation to the group’s 17-year-old member.
Questioning whether the incident should be publicized, Wolves Head Coach Kurt Richardson offered minimal comment.
‘All I’m going to say,? he said, ‘is it’s been handled by the police, it’s been handled by their families, it’s been handled by the athletic department and the football team. I don’t think it needs to be handled by The Clarkston News.?
Athletic Director Dan Fife said he was unhappy but not disillusioned over the incident.
‘It is disappointing,? he said. ‘And it’s hurtful to our coaches and hurtful to the other players not involved.?
But, like nearly any high school setting, said Fife, substance use is part of the teen culture and he’s been faced with similar circumstances a number of times in the past.
‘As much as we’d like to do all the things for prevention, it’s out there,? he said, noting school liaison officer Gary Crake alerts school officials about any student involvement with police. ‘We’re all aware of it, we’re all working on it. Unfortunately, in today’s society, kids are faced with making a lot of tough decisions.?
Fife, who has served 26 years as athletic director, said it was necessary to find balance between understanding that young people make mistakes, while also ensuring lessons are learned from those mistakes.
‘The important thing is that we do have rules and regulations that we abide by,? he said. ‘There are no gray areas. It’s black and white; it doesn’t matter if you’re the superstar or the last player on the team, you fall under our guidelines.?
The incident was a first offense for two of the players, mandating they sit out 20 percent of the regular season, or two games, he said.
For the other two players, however, the incident was a second offense, requiring they miss 40 percent of the season.
The athletic department, Fife said, has discussed random drug testing, but thus far has refrained due to expense and uncertainty over how to establish a policy on which athletes would be selected for testing, and when.
The five students told police they ‘scored? the marijuana from another CHS student, who they could only identify by first name.
‘We are following up with everything we know,? said Principal Vince Licata. ‘Discipline has and will be handed out.?
Licata said it was possible marijuana was seeing an upswing in popularity among students.
‘I believe it’s making a comeback,? he said. ‘I don’t know to what extent, but we do hear about those things so I guess it’s making a little bit of a comeback.?
Drug testing, he said, was worth a look, but not likely to happen any time soon.
‘I’d like to at least discuss it,? he said. ‘I think there are good things and bad things about it, but there aren’t too many school districts that have that policy, and there has to be a reason why ? I really don’t want to move in that direction if we don’t have to.?
The incidence of marijuana use among high school-age young people, said Lt. Dale LaBair, commander of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Independence Township substation, is high, but perhaps not as high as previously.
‘There’s a ton of it,? he said. ‘In terms of numbers, I’d say it’s a little less prevalent in the past few years, but it’s by no means going away.?
Local police, he said, are conscious of marijuana’s prevalence, know what to look for and won’t hesitate to ask permission to search a vehicle or even call out one of the county’s dozen of so drug-sniffing dogs when necessary.
‘As time goes on,? he said, ‘THC levels in marijuana continue to increase. It takes less and less for a person to become higher and higher.?
As THC levels in the bloodstream increase, he said, reflexes slow, inhibitions drop and judgment and motor skills become impaired.
The ability to drive, he said, becomes impaired in much the same way as alcohol.
Alcohol, he said, is still rated as the most abused substance among teens, with marijuana in the number two spot.
‘If you get caught with marijuana you will be busted,? he said. ‘You will end up in trouble every time, whether you’re caught with a seed or a truckload.?
At the high school, Dan Fife said he holds Clarkston students to a higher standard, and hopes they heard the message.
‘We’re always talking about trying to win the right way and lose the right way,? he said. ‘We hold our kids accountable. If they’ve got the Clarkston letter jacket on, whether they’re in the hallway, classroom, or the mall, there are expectations; you follow the rules, you treat people with respect, you treat the game, your coaches, your family, your teammates with respect.?