Substance Abuse
"Stop
the drugs. Keep the kid!"
Technique: The best interest of children is not served through
substance abuse. The teacher takes responsibility for letting the students
know it is unwise and self defeating behavior. The teacher also protects
the student by getting medical assistance if use of alcohol or drugs is
suspected. The fine line the teacher walks comes between showing clearly
that there is no tolerance for use of drugs yet no judgment of the student
as a person.
Procedures: The drugs of choice for most students are alcohol and
nicotine. Both of these substances are readily available and many students
become involved in substance abuse in the intermediate grades. Use of
alcohol and smoking is a status offense. It is illegal for children to
use the substances, only because of their status - underage.
Stand
firm on rules about substances
- It is
difficult for many teachers to feel justified in stopping smoking and
drinking behavior since there may be personal use by the teacher.
- Many
teachers are confused about teacher / student boundaries. It is taboo
for peers to ãrat.ä If the teacher is wavering back and forth about
role or status in the adolescent community, in desire or behavior, then
there may be a fear of alienation.
- Fear
of retaliation may be justified. When students are confronted, many
lash out physically or threaten and carry out covert revenge.
The physiological
response is powerful when a student is habituated or addicted. By high school
there is already a drug dependence among many students. In addition to alcohol
and tobacco use, as many as 40% of high school students self report use
of marijuana at least once a week (U.S. Dept. of Health Report, 1991). The
craving intensifies anger at being caught and fear of parents learning and
the law becoming involved also lend intensity to anger about being found
out and stopped.
Teacher support
It is important for the teachers to get a support group together to tackle
this problem. Discuss these issues and others that emerge at the school.
Provide morale for each other and agreement on the importance of eliminating
drugs from campus. Backing from the administration is crucial. Support from
the police and juvenile justice department is vital for follow-through and
consistency. These need to be established before one or two teachers decide
to act on the problem independently. The parent community should also be
alerted to the initiation of serious efforts and what those will involve.
There are excellent programs available for drug rehabilitation and family
counseling. Discuss these things with the mental health community so that
parents and students can receive support beyond the initial awareness of
the substance abuse problems.
Why this is a teacher's job
- Substance
abusers cannot learn as well and are seldom able to focus well.
- Substance
abuse is catching. Students coerce peers to join in.
- Student
violence is repeatedly tied to drug use.
- Substance
abuse is illegal.
Medical concerns: Students die each year from alcohol abuse. Be particularly
aware of the danger that a student is in a stupor or coma rather than asleep.
This is particularly important after lunch when students may have been drinking
or doing drugs.
Once you
have completed this topic you should:
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