Equip Yourself to Make A Difference

No matter what level you serve as a school counselor, your students will be impacted by substance abuse. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) estimates that 25 percent of children grow up in households where substance abuse is present. The many harmful effects of being raised in this environment include poor school performance, increased risk of mental health disorders, higher risk of abuse and low self-esteem. Research also shows that children growing up with substance abusing parents are more than twice as likely to develop a substance use disorder by young adulthood (Chassin, Pitts, & DeLucia, 1999; Solis, Shadur, Burns, & Hussong, 2012). School counselors must be equipped to recognize how substance use can impact students, and how to intervene to support student success.

Through the implementation of a comprehensive school counseling program, school counselors can address substance use in a variety of ways. Prevention activities and education can be delivered through the school counseling core curriculum, either through large school-wide programs, events and assemblies or through classroom lessons. By understanding risk factors and recognizing warning signs, school counselors may provide targeted interventions through responsive services to small groups and individuals who are at higher risk for substance abuse. Staff development can inform teachers and administrators about the warning signs, risk factors, and when to refer students to the counseling office for further assessment. Parent education can help parents understand the warning signs and consequences of substance use, and how to intervene and support their child in developing healthy coping skills and social activities. School counselors need to be aware of community resources to make necessary referrals for students who need help beyond what the school counseling program can provide. Finally, a school counselor should advocate for students, ensuring that instances of substance use be handled through school-based interventions and substance abuse treatment referrals before the school takes punitive disciplinary action.

Risk factors in youth predict a higher risk of substance abuse. Protective factors can counteract that effect. Prevention efforts seek to increase protective factors and decrease risk factors. Access an overview of risk and protective factors by developmental stage and comprehensive information.

In addition to the content in this newsletter issue, the November/December 2018 ASCA School Counselor magazine offers articles on vaping, substance-related legal and ethical issues, alcohol use and adult influence, and a parent’s story. ASCA also has webinars available including “What Every Counselor Should Know About Underage Drinking,” “Integrate Alcohol Education into Your Program” and “Marijuana & Students, Trends, Myths & Change.”

David Sheff, author of the New York Times Bestseller “Beautiful Boy,” and his son Nic Sheff, a recovering drug addict, just published “High: Everything You Want to Know About Drugs, Alcohol, and Addiction.” The book is written for teenagers to provide “factual, reliable information on drugs, alcohol, and addiction, so you can make educated decisions for yourself.” School counselors can use this book as a catalyst to start dialogues with students or for schoolwide reading and discussion, as a book study for small groups or as a resource for an individual student at risk.

More resources include:

• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Evidenced-Based Practices Resource Center provides a search for substance abuse prevention for children and youth.
• NIDA includes an entire section on its website devoted to parents and educators.
• The Mendez Foundation has an evidence-based K–12 program, Too Good for Drugs, and curriculum training is provided.
• The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids provides educational information and referral resources.

 If you didn’t receive training on substance abuse in your master’s program or you need to update your knowledge, many professional development opportunities and resources are available to get you up-to-speed on the latest trends and evidence-based practices in substance abuse prevention and early intervention.
 
Wendy Rock, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of counseling at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana.