As the school year approaches, educators may want to make at least one important addition to their supplies list: Safe and Sober. Why? According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, 50% of teens have misused drugs at least once, and over 25% of eighth graders have abused alcohol at least once. Teenage brains are in a stage of development that makes them more susceptible to substance use and the resulting consequences. Educators are in a unique position to effectively deliver messages about sobriety and start conversations regarding possible current substance use.
Schools striving to prevent substance misuse and promote safe, healthy living can educate students and the adults who influence them – namely, parents and teachers. It is important to use a curriculum, like Safe and Sober, to prevent adolescent use and also intervene when students show signs of use. Students who are using substances may exhibit signs such as acting angry, fatigued, irritable, or hyperactive. They may have trouble concentrating, display regular tardiness or truancy, switch friend groups, or often talk about substances.
Approaching teens about possible substance use will be most effective when educators are open and honest about substance use and the potential consequences. Building relationships with students and cultivating a positive culture of care and trust creates a foundation for tough conversations about substance use and empathic interventions that retain student dignity.
Our resources can help deter teens from using substances and create a culture of open dialogue about substance misuse. Once the curriculum is shared, teachers can nurture this culture by building relationships with students and continuing conversations about the benefits that come from a safe and sober lifestyle.
Safe and Sober is made possible with generous support from these businesses and organizations.
