This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of ten practiced American high school counselors and their work with student substance users. The results of this study provide a rich description and deeper understanding the school counselors' social and cultural worlds--Illuminating the circumstances under which the participants found students to be in serious and foreseeable harm due to substance abuse. Using a pure phenomenological qualitative research design, the study was conducted through the theoretical lens of the social constructivist model of ethical decision-making in counseling. The data revealed three major themes and several subthemes. The first theme, "Community and School Climate," discusses the high school counselors' reflections of working within their social and cultural environments. Subthemes include a) residential attributes and b) school climate and expectations. The second major theme, "Perceptions of School Counseling Role," explores the high school counselors' perceptions of their professional and ethical responsibilities. Subthemes include a) protector and advocate and b) what the job is not. The third major theme, "Red Flags," examines what variables led the participants in this study to consider breaking confidentiality. This theme's subthemes are a) drug severity and use considerations and b) deal breakers. These findings are further discussed and implications for future practice and research are provided. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]