Everyone who works at our schools has a role to play in the campaign to prevent meth, from the teacher in the classroom to the school principal to the janitor.
There are many things that schools can do to be proactive and involved in stamping out meth use - beginning with prevention strategies and, in cases where those have failed, using intervention strategies to help save kids from the dangers of meth use.
The safety of everyone at school is the paramount concern.
Indications of meth use:
- Negative changes in school: increased absences, declining grades, dropping out of extracurricular activities
- Change in friends
- Violations of school rules or laws
- Our-of-school problems
- Changes in clothing styles, especially wearing clothing that reflects or promotes drug use.
- Periods of hyperactivity, talkativeness, violence, vandalism
- Disruptive or atypical behavior
- Dilated pupils
- Dry lips or mouth, bleeding of the nose
- Noticeable weight loss
- Skin sores, scabs
Prevention strategies:
- Personalize schools and programs so that each child feels cared for
- Enhance students' social competencies and skills
- Emphasize the development of positive values
- Offer quality prevention programs in multiple areas of risk (grief, substance abuse in the family, divorce, etc.)
- Enhance academic effectiveness for students in all income brackets
- Emphasize service learning programs
- Provide strong support services for youth at risk
Intervention strategies:
- Monitor the signs
- Stop your own enabling behaviors: don't cover up or prevent the student from facing negative consequences
- Talk to the student (and parents, if necessary) about your concerns (a behavior checklist helps)
- Be calm
- Be specific about what you have observed that causes concern
- Follow the process; refer to community resources as needed