Substance Abuse in Our Schools

Substance Abuse in Our Schools Presentation to the Assembly Education Committee

KEVIN QUINT, JOIN TOGETHER NORTHERN NEVADA KATHERINE LOUDON, COORDINATOR COUNSELING & SAFE AND DRUG FREE WASHOE SCHOOLS MARCH 14, 2011

Introduction Nevada’s Substance Abuse Prevention System Youth Risk Behavioral Survey (YRBS) School Districts and Coalitions working together Recommendations D-2

Statewide Trends  Overall downturn in alcohol and drug trends from

2001-2007  General decrease or flat trends in many alcohol usage categories  However, general increase in reported and drug use by youth in 2009 across the nation, in Nevada, and in most Nevada counties  Historically, there are spikes in reported drug use by students in the transition from 6th to 7th grade and from 8th to 9th grade  Clark County’s drug trends seem lower than the rest of the state and Washoe County’s seem higher D-3

Statewide Trends  Marijuana should be one of our greatest concerns (social acceptability and “smokers’ corners” becoming “pot smokers’ corners”)

 Despite the downturn, alcohol is still big (Alcopops, “4 Loko,” Extreme Drinking games such as “Pong,” and more)

 Proliferation and availability of prescription

painkillers (That path can lead to heroin) D-4

Substance Abuse Connects to violence and crime, gangs, theft, rape, depression, suicide, teen pregnancy, STD’s, poor health, and drop out.

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Marijuana

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Marijuana

The single most mentioned

drug in treatment admissions for youth At least one district’s students report that marijuana use is big on campus and during school D-7

Admissions

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Over-the-Counter and Opiate Drugs  YRBS does not yet ask students about heroin or

prescription drugs.  However, OTC drug abuse has increased, which may

be an indicator of increased prescription abuse.  Anecdotally, treatment providers are reporting more

heroin and opiate prescription drug abuse among youth. D-9

Other Trends  Spice, Ivory Wave, Coricidin  Binge drinking is still an issue  Drinking and driving: 34% rode in car with someone who

had been drinking

 Reemergence of inhalant abuse  Experimentation with routes of administration D-10

Suspensions/Expulsions

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Contributing Factors to Substance Abuse Problems in the Schools  Perceived risk for a particular drug  Social and community norms  Club Drugs  Availability  Gateway drugs  Parental approval  Media  Epidemic Formation  Generational Forgetting D-12

What is Being Done in the School Districts?  NIAA policy (alcohol, tobacco, and drugs)  Drug testing in Washoe, Carson City, and Douglas  Boys and Girls Club has a site at every elementary school in Lyon

County

 Leadership Club in Carson City has developed an opiate prevention

project

 Churchill has methamphetamine awareness in all 6th grade and

junior high classes

 Douglas’ 9th grade health classes have substance abuse curriculum  Extensive collaboration between Coalitions and School Districts in

every county of the state

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Focus on Education in WCSD

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Case Study: Washoe County School District  Community collaboration projects for training,

parent support groups, student intervention programs, youth education, resources and materials

 Youth developed materials and planning “students

against destructive decisions” groups, peer mentoring and service learning projects

 Coaches, teachers not just health teachers,

counselors, nurses, law enforcement, bus drivers, student wellness while keeping focus on graduation D-15

What Needs to Be Done  School Boards need updated information, and there

      

needs to be serious dialogue, planning, and collaboration within the community Passive consent on YRBS versus active consent Continue collaborations between coalitions and school districts Support parent groups and increase their capacity to make a difference Discipline alternatives such as intervention programs Focused education Youth directed prevention & service learning Teacher, bus driver, and other staff training D-16

Our Future

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Conclusion-Questions and Answers Thank you for this opportunity! Kevin Quint, Executive Director Join Together Northern Nevada 775-324-7557 [email protected] www.jtnn.org Katherine Loudon, Coordinator, CounselingSafe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Washoe County School District 775-721-5284 [email protected] www.washoe.k12.nv.us

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