A combination of factors, including the ease with which drugs can be acquired, alienation, and peer pressure, is driving American teens toward their abuse. As a result, teens in high school and college secretly use drugs. In bedrooms and frat parties, it has become customary to pool all drugs, stolen from old people’s medicine cabinets or purchased from vendors or pill factories, before embarking on the adventurous journey of a collective high. However, this fun and this adventure comes at a cost. As most teens who use drugs are aware of the implications of the misdemeanor once they are caught, they do not report to authorities in the event that a partner overdoses, resulting in the tragic loss of young lives.
The problem of drug abuse has spread its deadly tentacles through schools, posing a significant threat to the future of children in terms of impact on their health, academics, career and personal life. Due to such serious involvement in the future of society, many schools, despite limited funds, have developed programs to raise awareness and keep drug abuse under control. While some approaches are based on prohibition and punishment, others emphasize education and rehabilitation. The goal is to keep drugs off campus and establish a solid foundation for training people to resist those temptations.
As young people prefer commitment to long and boring lectures, some of the means adopted by schools are as follows:
Spread knowledge through anti-drug assemblies: Anti-drug assemblies are an attractive way to show the dire consequences of the habit of looking for drugs. With addiction treatment physicians and recovering patients presenting as guest speakers, students can get a realistic picture of how drugs take them away from loved ones and cause impaired cognitive abilities, such as difficulty following directions. Students have the opportunity to clarify their doubts during these sessions.
Educate children as soon as possibleConsidering the fact that most young people start using drugs, smoking cigarettes, or drinking alcohol on school days, or when they are in their teens, it is the best time to remember the dangers of using drugs and other addictive substances.
Carrying out self-reliance programs: Children who are confident in themselves are less likely to use drugs. Therefore, some programs emphasize developing the child’s self-reliance in all kinds of social situations. This helps them, even under adverse peer pressure, not to succumb to the temptation to use drugs and to firmly say no to such activities. These programs are effective even in the long term, as they teach children some essential life skills necessary to abstain from drugs, alcohol, etc.
Antidote storage: Since it makes no sense to shy away from the truth that young people, especially those in college, will use drugs regardless of controls, authorities are advised to stockpile their supply of naloxone, the antidote to opioid overdose.
Engaging children from families struggling with addiction: Instead of isolating a child with a troubled family, including members addicted to drugs, it is essential to involve him in all school or university activities. Regardless of whether the child is late for school or has homework problems, a caring and supportive school environment will mitigate the chances of the child falling into the same cycle of addiction. Children of drug addicted families could also participate as guest speakers at anti-drug assemblies.
Focus on developing teens’ assertiveness: With the help of a trained child counselor and other professional services, schools could focus on training adolescents to develop their assertiveness and level of emotional control. This is not only useful for developing a career, but it could also help the adolescent to realize their value. Teens who feel sad and confused are at greater risk of using drugs to feel successful or empowered.
Get help for drug addiction
Children are at greater risk of falling into the trap of drug addiction due to their emotional vulnerability and their undeveloped brain in the process of developing key cognitive skills. It is essential that parents and teachers listen and talk about their fears and emotional upheavals, rather than ignoring them as their temper tantrums.
