If a joint or flask falls out of the teen's backpack while in the counselor's office, they get arrested and expelled, if everyone's following the policy. But yes maybe they can get away with admitting they are using.
I sincerely doubt the students in your school system get expelled on a first offense. In the school system I attended, Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia, students get suspended upon the discovery of alcohol or drugs. Secondary offenses yield suspension and recommendation for expulsion. Illegal substances are handed over to the police, and the student may be charged. Source: http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/8WBPCN...
Weapons yielded suspension and automatic recommendation for expulsion. Administrators did not have to agree with the recommendation.
With that said, I don't like the "automatic recommendation for expulsion" parts of these policies. Even if administrators don't need to adhere to it, making it automatic is silly in the edge cases. I don't think it helps.
Not all schools have a zero tolerance policy for drugs and alcohol. I've read it's only 87% that have it. Search for: The tough disciplinary policy in Fairfax County public schools is not one of “zero tolerance,” officials there say.
