Substance Abuse Prevention, Education, and Intervention
The impact of substance abuse, particularly opioids, on communities has always been a concern. Each week the news seems to share more and more stories of overdoses on school campuses across our country attributed to illegal drug use, especially opioids. The opioid epidemic has reached the level of a public health emergency, which has been escalated by the availability of Fentanyl, a synthetic opiate that is 50-100 times stronger than morphine. This makes it cheaper, easier to get, and much more deadly than other opioids. This drug is often found “laced” into other drugs, including marijuana and prescription pills sold by dealers. An amount as small as the tip of a pencil can cause a deadly overdose.
This has changed the landscape of how substance abuse is addressed in schools given the incredible risk of overdose and unfortunately loss of life, as we have seen across the country, the commonwealth, our region, and neighboring school divisions. The reality for all educators and parents is that drugs exist in our community, students are exposed to them, and some will take them. Therefore, everyone must work together to address this concern including parents, schools, law enforcement, and our public health officials. Here in FCCPS the focus is on prevention, education, and intervention.
Talk with Your Children
The most important strategy in our toolbox as parents and educators is talking. Talk with your students about the dangers of buying and using drugs. Adults need to know who students are interacting with and monitor their texts, as well as their social media accounts. Know what your students are doing, who they are spending time with, and where they are. This is a community issue that is going to take all of us together to protect our students. A harsh reality we all must face is the risk is real and the consequence is a life when opioids overdoses occur.
Education
Educating our students on the dangers of substance abuse is critical. Students across all levels are provided instruction in the Virginia Standards of Learning for Health and Wellness which encompass instruction on substance use. (K-12 VDOE HEALTH AND WELLNESS STANDARDS OF LEARNING) These standards are taught at all levels based on grade level by our Health & PE teachers, our school counselors in guidance lessons for classrooms, and by classroom teachers for example.
Northern Virginia School Respond: Teens & Substance Abuse
February 22, 2023
Substance use Education for Community: Youth Substance Use Trends and Resources
February 28, 2023
Policy
Implementing School Board Policies & Regulations that address substance abuse is important to ensure a safe learning environment. As a division we have a variety of policies in place that address substance use and abuse to ensure that our approaches and responses are appropriate. Our focus is on support rather than punishment, although there are clear consequences in place that are based on the context and seriousness of the situation when illicit substances are involved. Situations involving drugs here in FCCPS are very rare, but when they happen, our school administrators have policies in place to guide the response
CLA - REPORTING ACTS OF VIOLENCE AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE
9.36P - Substance Abuse: Prevention and Sanctions
Mental Health
Providing access to mental health support in our schools is a key strategy. As school divisions have emerged from the pandemic, mental health is a top concern for staff, parents and students. The comorbidity between substance use and mental health issues is incredibly high. Students struggling with mental health concerns are at significant risk for substance use. Some of the reasons include seeking symptom relief and escaping feelings by using drugs to self medicate. Although this behavior in origin may be to stop the impact of depression or anxiety, unfortunately this results in the exacerbation of mental health issues. All of our schools provide mental health support from school counselors, social workers, and psychologists using small groups and individual sessions.
FCCPS uses a comprehensive model of threat assessments to address harm to self and others across the division. This includes questions about drug use.
Online Mental Health/Substance Abuse Screening Form from the Suicide Prevention
Alliance of Northern Virginia (Available in English & Spanish)
In a mental health or substance use emergency | Community Services Board
For non-emergency CSB services: how to begin | Community Services Board
Parent Education
Offering parent education resources to support families as they address the topic of substance abuse in the home is also an effective part of the work here. FCCPS is launching a new section on our website dedicated to substance abuse to provide resources for staff, parents, and students to ensure everyone has access to updated information for prevention, education, and intervention.
Talking with Your Child About Opiates Brochure
Talking with Teens About Alcohol and Other Drugs
Heads Up Talk It Out Recovery Groups for Teens & Parents
Fentanyl overdose survivor shares her story | Nightline
Drugs & Your Family | Get Smart About Drugs
A dose of fentanyl the size of the tip of a pencil is considered a lethal amount.
Centers for Disease Control's Fentanyl Facts: English | Spanish
DEA's Facts about Fentanyl
Messaging
Messaging and communication is critical as well. We have posted signage in schools in both English and Spanish to support recognizing and responding to an overdose, as well as information about the dangers of opioid use.
A great tool for parents is the text emoji posters (EMOJI DRUG CODE | DECODED and Emoji Drug Code Decoded) available from the DEA which helps parents “crack the code” of how emojis are being used to facilitate drug transactions with teens.
Community Partners
The division collaborates with several community partners. They include the Fairfax/Falls Church Community Services Board, the Fairfax Health Department, and the Arlington Courts Intake Unit to link families to support for substance abuse assessments, intervention, and treatment. These intervention services are so important to ensure students and families in need get support.
The following websites provide information for families in search of substance abuse treatment resources from our community partners. Families should also contact their health care provider for support and guidance as well.
PRS Family Peer Support Partners
Student Training
As a division we are engaging with our school administrators, local health officials and other school divisions to address what student access looks like at the secondary level. Students don’t use drugs in a roomful of adults. They don’t often know that experiencing an overdose or responding in an overdose situation won’t get them in trouble with law enforcement. We have to help them know who to call, what to do, and when to do it—to save their life or the life of a friend.
Hopefully, there will be movement at the federal level for Naloxone/Narcan to be easily available over the counter at a more affordable price. Until then we want people to know it is available from pharmacists without a prescription, coupons are available from resources such as GoodRX, and it is provided for free to anyone who attends a REVIVE training.
For Further Info
Contact Rebecca Sharp Executive Director of Special Services for questions related to substance abuse prevention, intervention and treatment resources.
Contact Julie Macrina Director of Curriculum & Instruction for questions related to standards, lessons, and other instructional resources.
Naloxone/Narcan
Ensuring the availability of Narcan/Naloxone medication in our schools, particularly at the Secondary level is our most recent work. FCCPS has Naloxone/Narcan doses in our AEDs and in the health clinics across our schools. Additionally, Meridian has additional doses to have on hand for evening and travel events. All Naloxone/Narcan doses in our schools are provided by the Virginia Department of Health in their ongoing partnership with FCCPS. All Secondary Administrators, Sport Coaches, and School Health Aides have been trained so far. All secondary staff will be provided training opportunities on how to administer Naloxone/Narcan in the coming weeks. FCCPS implements the REVIVE training model using the resources provided by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. Additional REVIVE training session dates will be announced soon that will be open to staff, parents, and students with parental permission. The Meridian High School PTA in collaboration with the Falls Church Education Foundation and the School Board Health & Wellness committee hosted a REVIVE training session for over 115 parents and students last week. This session was provided by staff from the Fairfax/Falls Church Community Service Board. The group also screened the important film, One Pill Can Kill. We are so grateful to them for their support. Naloxone/Narcan saves lives. It is the only way to reverse an opioid overdose. We want it to be as accessible as possible.
Naloxone DrugFacts | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)