Substance use disorders affect millions of Americans – young and old. With 69 percent of people in America saying that either their own or a loved one’s alcohol or drug problem has had some negative impact on them, it is more crucial than ever to understand substance use disorders, treatment, and recovery.1
As National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month (Recovery Month) celebrates its 20th anniversary, it is dedicated to expanding its reach and providing tools to even more people than ever before. Educators play a central role in this year’s theme, “Join the Voices for Recovery: Together We Learn, Together We Heal.” Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services urges educators to offer support and guidance to students and family members who may be affected by substance use disorders. Due to their daily involvement with children, young adults, and parents, educators are uniquely positioned to make a difference.
Youths Are at Risk
Many young people experience a curiosity or pressure from friends to use alcohol and/or drugs. In fact, in 2007:2,3,4
- 9.5 percent of youths aged 12 to 17 were current illicit drug users.
- 10.7 million people aged 12 to 20 had used alcohol within the past month.
- 85.9 percent of people aged 12 or older who initiated alcohol use in the past year did so before they reached the legal age of 21.
- As many as 4.7 million teens said they had misused a prescription drug at some point in their lives. “Pharming” parties are becoming popular among junior high and high school students, where students trade and misuse controlled prescription drugs.
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Students With Addiction
Signs that may be red-flag indicators of drug or alcohol use among students include:
- A drop in grades at school, or skipping or being late for school
- Difficulty paying attention or remembering things
- Changes in friends, sudden avoidance of old crowd, or hesitancy to talk about new friends
- Slow or staggering walk, poor physical coordination
- Red, watery eyes; pupils larger or smaller than usual; blank stare
- Smell of substance on breath, body, or clothes
- Tremors or shakes in the hands, feet, or head5
For a more comprehensive list of signs, please visit the American Council for Drug Education Web site.
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Students Who Have Family Members With a Problem
More than 50 percent of adults suffering from a dependence on alcohol are children of alcoholics themselves, and millions of others have problems that stem from alcoholism or drug addiction in their families.6 To help break the cycle, watch for the following signs that a student may have a relative with a problem:
- Evidence of physical illness or abuse
- Emotional disturbances
- Difficulty in school, such as absenteeism and lower grades7
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How to Help Students
Educators should recognize certain behaviors or changes in students’ attitudes. Doing so could help young people successfully overcome a crisis and develop more effective coping skills, often preventing further problems.8 If you believe a student, or someone in his or her home, is suffering from a substance use disorder:
- Engage a student assistance program or social worker and offer to help the student.
- Take the time to speak with his or her parents, or directly with the student if the parent is suspected of having a problem, and help develop a plan of action.
- Come prepared with different options for treatment, such as mutual support groups and inpatient or outpatient facilities. For teens, encourage them to become involved with Alateen, which offers support for teens who have a family member or friend suffering with an alcohol or drug problem.
When helping students in recovery from their own or a family member’s addiction, remember that:
- Recovery is a life-long process and requires commitment, introspection, and most importantly, courage.
- During the initial stages of recovery, supportive adult influences, including teachers, parents, and others, will make the most difference.
- Identifying healthy strengths, values, goals, and interests is an important step. Educators can help young people figure out what concrete actions they can take to reach their life goals.9
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Online Resources for Educators
Recovery Month’s Web site at http://www.recoverymonth.gov is filled with resources to help students and parents learn about substance use disorders. Other resources include:
- The Office of Applied Studies, SAMHSA provides the latest national data on alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse, as well as information about the nation’s substance abuse treatment system
- The National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE) educates parents and teenagers about the importance of appropriate medicine use
- The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) educates children aged 11 through 15, as well as their teachers and parents, about the science of addiction
- Check Yourself helps young adults understand issues of addiction and offers answers to questions about substance use, first-person experiences, quizzes, message boards, and addiction, treatment, and recovery information
- The American Council for Drug Education offers educational programs and services designed to engage teens and address the needs of parents
- The American Counseling Association features downloadable resources and online learning classes
- The American School Counselor Association provides professional development, publications and other resources, research, and advocacy support to more than 24,000 professional school counselors around the globe
Click here for a longer version of this guide for educators. Information about treatment options and special services in your area can be found at http://www.samhsa.gov/treatment, a portal that includes a database of more than 11,000 U.S. treatment options and additional treatment resources, as well as by calling 1-800-662-HELP.
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Sources
1 What Does America Think About Addiction Prevention and Treatment? Princeton, NJ: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 24, March 2007, p. 1.
2 Results From the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings. DHHS Publication No. (SMA) 08-4343. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies, September 2008, pp. 3, 20, 55.
3 U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency Web site: http://www.usdoj.gov/. Accessed August 18, 2008.
4 The Partnership Attitude Tracking Study (PATS): 2007 Report. Partnership for a Drug-Free America, August 4, 2008.
5 “Signs and Symptoms of Drug Use.” American Council for Drug Education Web site: http://www.acde.org/parent/signs.htm. p. 1. Accessed August 12, 2008.
6 Children of Alcoholics: A Kit for Educators. Rockville, MD: National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACoA), 2001, p. 3.
7 Ibid, p. iv.
8 “Signs and Symptoms of Drug Use.” American Council for Drug Education Web site: http://www.acde.org/parent/signs.htm. p. 1. Accessed August 12, 2008.
9 “Recovery Support.” Drug Rehab Treatment Web site: http://www.drugrehabtreatment.com/recovery-support.html, p. 1. Accessed August 12, 2008.
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