How can schools help to prevent youth and young adult substance misuse and create supportive learning environments?
- School leaders, teachers, and staff can create safe environments and positive cultures for students.
- Schools can educate students and families about the dangers of drug use and about how to prevent misuse and addiction.
- Many evidence-based prevention programs can be delivered in a school setting.
- Schools can help to mitigate risk factors that can make students vulnerable to engaging in dangerous behavior and also boost protective factors that increase student engagement.
- Schools can be prepared if a drug poisoning or overdose occurs on school grounds.
- Schools and school districts can support students in recovery and students whose family members are suffering from addiction.
Other Resources
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides resources on adolescent and school health and opioid overdose prevention.
- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides resources to support early childhood- young adult mental health, as well as resources to prevent youth substance use and support treatment and recovery.
- The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) provides resources to support parents, caregivers and educators, K-12 schools, and Institutions of Higher Education educate students about the dangers of substance misuse and strategies for building healthy lifestyles.
- The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) provides resources and tools for schools to prevent and address youth substance misuse, including training opportunities for educators.
- SchoolSafety.gov features resources to learn more about substance abuse use, how to address risks, and increase protective factors that prevent and reduce youth substance abuse.
- The Rural Community Toolbox is an interactive online tool to assist rural community leaders to assess the causes and impact of substance use disorder and find federal resources and programs to help build strong healthy drug-free rural communities.
What should students know and do?
- The social behavior of students affects the success of schools as learning environments.
- Risk-related behaviors are a barrier to academic gains and healthy lifestyles.
- Students should know about the dangers of illicit drug use. They should also be supported in developing skills to resist pressure to experiment with and misuse drugs and build healthy lifestyle choices.
- Students should know when and where to seek help either for their own substance use disorders, or addiction issues, or for dealing with issues arising from misuse, addiction, and overdose by friends or family members.
Other Resources
- Students can learn how the body and brain respond to specific drugs through NIDA's Mind Matters series.
- Students can get facts and information on a variety of different substances at DEA's Just Think Twice.
- Students can confidentially and anonymously find information on treatment facilities in the United States and U.S Territories for substance misuse, addiction, or mental health support.
How can parents and guardians of students help to prevent and reduce youth and young adult substance use and support students to make healthy lifestyle choices?
- Educated and empowered parents and guardians are the first line of defense in preventing illicit drug use by students.
- ED partnered with DEA to release a new version of the popular publication, Growing Up Drug-Free: A Parent's Guide to Substance Use Prevention. The Guide includes an overview of substance use among children, youth, and young adults, and includes suggestions for how to talk to young people about alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, tailored to their age group, along with tips on what to do if you suspect your child is using alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs. The Guide is available here. (December 2024)
Other Resources
- Parents and guardians can receive support on how to talk to their families about drugs, their effects, and where to receive help.
- Parents and guardians can be more informed, prepared, and ready to act through SAMHSA's Talk. They Hear You. campaign to prevent and reduce youth and young adult substance use.
- Parents and guardians can learn more about specific drugs and help their families make healthy lifestyle choices at Get Smart about Drugs. The DEA's One Pill Can Kill campaign has information and resources to help parents learn more about fake pills.
How does ED assist State and local educational agencies, K-12 schools, and institutions of higher education in preventing and reducing youth and young adult substance use?
- ED has a long history of promoting substance misuse prevention in schools, through programs, products, and targeted technical assistance.
- ED administers grant programs and other technical assistance centers that can help State and local educational agencies and schools address substance misuse prevention, promote school safety, and create supportive school climates.
Other Resources
- The Office of Safe and Supportive Schools (OSSS) is committed to serving States and school communities by providing resources, direct support, and technical assistance on topics that affect the well-being, health and safety of our nation's young people. This includes funding The Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) to improve the capacity of state and local educational agencies and schools to establish, scale-up, and sustain the PBIS framework.
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