Teachers spend nearly as much time with kids during the school year as their parents do, taking into account the time spent sleeping. Especially for young kids, they’re important role models. A lot of kids believe that a teacher must know everything, and their word is as good as gospel. It’s surprising, then, that teachers don’t have many opportunities for teaching about drugs in schools.
Depending on the school – and the school’s budget – there might be a half-hearted attempt at sex ed, but for some reason there’s not much education about drug and alcohol use in schools. Part of this might be that it’s a bit of a grey area. Teachers may not want to encroach on something so important that should possibly be left up to parents. Unfortunately, if teachers are assuming that parents are handling the drug talk and parents aren’t stepping up to the plate, kids are being left at risk for substance abuse.
Teaching About Drugs in Schools
If you’re a teacher, you should of course check the rules that your school and district have on teaching about drugs. Ideally, substance use would be covered in a science or health textbook. However, teachers might find that they have to educate themselves before they can pass that knowledge on to their students. Even if you’re a relatively recent addition to the workforce, drug trends have changed since you were a teen. You’ll need to get up to date on what drugs are out there and what their signs are.
The first thing you should do as a teacher is focus on the science behind substance use and addiction, not the morality. Moral issues probably are better left to parents. However, kids likely won’t pay much attention anyway, if they feel they’re been lectured at. Instead of saying “drugs are bad,” or “you’ll end up in jail,” try focusing on the health effects instead. Knowing that drug use can lower IQ, for instance, might dissuade kids from trying it. Especially if they’re good students with plans to go to college. Focusing on individuality can also be successful; adolescents in particular tend to respond to messages about their ability to make their own decisions.
You might be able to work topics about drug use into your regular curriculum. For example, as an English or literature teacher, if the class is reading a work that involves drugs or alcohol, you can take a little detour into discussing substance abuse. Similarly, biology or anatomy classes would be a good opportunity to discuss the effects of drugs on the brain and nervous system. You can provide parents with this information as well. Including it in homework and allowing for an opportunity for kids to discuss it at home may be an option.
Addiction Treatment in California
Teaching about drugs in schools can be an effective way of drug prevention. However, it is possible for children to develop an addiction early on in life. If you suspect that your child or a loved one is addicted to drugs, it may be time to reach out for help.
If you or a loved one need help with quitting drugs or alcohol, consider Asana Recovery. We offer medical detox, along with both residential and outpatient programs. You’ll be supervised by a highly trained staff of medical professionals, counselors, and therapists. Call us any time at (949) 438-4504 to get started.