Prevention Tips for a Great Start to the School Year!
Prevention Ed is passionate about educating communities about the risks and realities associated with alcohol, marijuana, opioids, and other drugs. We believe prevention is a culture and a collaborative process developed through strategic prevention planning with community stakeholders and supported by comprehensive substance use education. We are allies in the health of your community and strive to create positive change in the lives of young people. Here are some prevention tips and strategies to start considering as you plan for a happy and healthy 2024-2025 school year.
Stick to the Science: The landscape of alcohol and drug use varies across cultures and countries, but adolescent brain development is universal. While your community may hold diverse opinions on this topic, basing policy and curricula on opinions is a sure way to undermine prevention efforts. It's crucial to communicate substance use is a health issue and research shows: that the most effective protective factor for teens is delaying the use of alcohol and other drugs during this critical period of brain development.
Make Students Equal Partners in the Conversation: Over the past decade, our founder Katie has asked students worldwide, "What is the most frustrating response from your parents when you ask them why you can't do something?" The answer is consistently, "Because I said so." Similar to the "just say no" approach to prevention, that answer doesn't give students the information they need to make the healthiest choice for them. Making students equal partners in the conversation—exploring why they should delay alcohol and drug use, debunking misinformation, discussing their perspectives on substance use in their community, state, or country, and truly listening to their perceptions—transforms the experience from an eye-rolling "drug talk" into a meaningful conversation where they feel heard, respected, and validated. As a result, students leave the conversation more likely to absorb the information and make an informed choice about their non-use or use of alcohol and other drugs.
Center Student Health and Safety: Think of substance use prevention as another part of your community’s approach to childhood safeguarding. Beyond preventing addiction, our goal at Prevention Ed is to help ensure the safety and well-being of our students by arming them with need-to-know information. As students get older, the percentage of alcohol use increases, and parents may provide a "safe place" for them to drink which research shows results in higher amounts of alcohol consumption increasing the likelihood of negative consequences from drinking. These negative consequences can include:
Getting hurt or injured
Alcohol poisoning
Riding as a passenger in a vehicle after the driver has been drinking
Having a fight/argument/bad feelings with a family member or friend
Experiencing an unwanted sexual encounter
The increased likelihood of using nicotine, cannabis, and other drugs
When discussing the safety and well-being of our students with the community, it's essential to clearly outline the immediate risks that alcohol and other drugs pose. Equally important is emphasizing the school's commitment to prevention as a vital component of student health, particularly for the parent community.