Drug use by island teens is either on the rise, or students at the high schools are becoming more careless about their behavior on campus, with administrators more wise.

Eighteen Bainbridge High and Eagle Harbor High students have been suspended for alcohol or drug use during school and school activities in the first six weeks of the year, principals Duane Fish and Dave Shockley reported in an email to high school families last Thursday.

Last year, only six students had been suspended during the same period.

Fish and Shockley urged parents and teens to have open conversations about the subject, which, in light of a recent drug-related death of a BHS student, is “too important to sweep under the rug.”

In a conversation on Wednesday, district staff confirmed some of the details of the incidents. Students were suspended for possession of alcohol or marijuana and, in one case, possession of prescription medication without a prescription.

Students were caught when staff smelled odors or witnessed students exhibiting signs of intoxication or suspicious behavior. Students from both high schools were involved in incidents, which took place at the homecoming dance, at two football games and on campus during the school day, in a vehicle, in the bushes or near the wagon wheel on the BHS campus.

Two repeat offenders were turned in to law enforcement, while the other students were subject to 10 days of school suspension, per district policy, and temporarily suspended from interscholastic sport and club activities.

In November, the district plans to host a panel discussion on the dangers of synthetic drugs. Look for details at www.bisd303.org.