DRUG PREVENTION IN SCHOOL: WHY WE NEED IT

Changes in families and the community outside the school during the
past few decades have resulted in increasing challenges for teachers,
schools and the education system as a whole. In addition to providing
a caring and supportive learning environment, schools are expected to
undertake activities that prevent high-risk behaviours among their
students. One of these is harmful drug use.

Research has shown a number of causes for young people engaging in use
of alcohol and other drugs. Some are family conflict, family
discipline problems such as unclear rules for behaviour and excessive
or inconsistent punishment, poverty, family history of drug abuse, low
connection to community and academic failure. Although no single
factor can be said to cause harmful drug use, the more risk factors a
young person is exposed to, the greater the impact on their later
development.

It is possible to reduce the risks of drug use by building up
protective factors in young people: a sense of belonging and
connectedness in the family, a warm relationship with at least one
parent or significant adult, a sense of belonging at school,
meaningful involvement in school and community activities, feeling
loved and respected, and having religious or spiritual
connectedness.

The most successful strategies are those that target risk factors and
attempt to create or enhance protective factors. This effort is
integrated across the community.

School District 73 understands schools are a vital part of linking
drug prevention across the community. Our district is employing
research-based strategies that serve to enhance protective factors in
children and offer them critical skills needed to reduce the harmful
effects of substance abuse.

Some of these are positive school-based behaviour management
strategies to build school connectedness and set high standards for
behaviour, peer-led activities and initiatives which offer young
people opportunity for meaningful involvement, recognition of problem
substance use in students and effective referral for counseling and
intervention.

Harmful drug use by young people is a concern for everyone. Schools
have an important role to play, as do families, community, law
enforcement and governments. School District 73 is proud to be working
together with these stakeholders to help improve the wellbeing of
youth in our community.