Preventing the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATOD) is an important aspect of helping children to grow up safe and healthy. Schools play

a big part in this prevention effort. At the same time, schools are under increasing pressure to meet rigorous academic standards, provide more

extra-curricular activities, and use the latest technology—seemingly with fewer and fewer resources available.

This page is designed to help schools, teachers, and educators make wise decisions about ATOD prevention, as well as to provide them with ideas

and resources in order to develop a comprehensive school-based ATOD prevention program.

Use the following links to navigate this page or scroll down to read topics:

Drug Use Among Lancaster County Youth
School-Based Prevention
Classroom Ideas for Teachers
Drug-Free School Policy
Student Assistance (Student Assistance Programs—SAP)
Helping Parents
School Drug Testing
Downloads
Links to Internet Resources

The starting point for any effort in substance abuse prevention is an understanding of the extent of the problem. While most data sources provide data

at the state and national level, the 2003 Lancaster County Pennsylvania Youth Survey Report provides substance use and other behavioral data,

based on a survey of over 5,000 students (primarily 8th and 10th grade) in eight Lancaster County school districts.

Highlights from the report include:

• The three most popular substances among Lancaster County eighth graders at the time of the survey were alcohol (12.7% of students indicate                                                                          current use); cigarettes (7.4% of students indicated current use); and inhalants (5.2% of students indicated current use).

• The three most popular substances among Lancaster County tenth graders at the time of the survey were alcohol (29.9% of students indicated                                                                         current use); cigarettes (17.4% of students indicated current use); and marijuana (13.3% of students indicated current use).

School-based prevention is one of the most effective approaches to reducing the use and abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs (ATOD). School

-based preventioncan be very effective as an approach to prevention because: (1) most ATOD use/abuse begins before the age of 20 and (2) schools

are often the single best place to reach large numbers of people in this age group.

Effective and comprehensive school-based prevention programs help students develop social skills, decision-making skills, and coping skills, all of

which are important tools for kids in avoiding ATOD use. Since kids are often at risk years before they actually use, prevention programs should begin

as early as elementary school, with frequent re-enforcement throughout middle and high school. The Lancaster Drug & Alcohol Information Center

website has more information regarding substance abuse prevention and prevention programs and services available to schools in Lancaster

County, Pennsylvania.

Classroom teachers can make a big difference when it comes to substance abuse prevention. Teachers can incorporate this information

into their health and science lessons, and Information about decision-making and refusal skills can be incorporated into almost any subject.

Teacher attitudes and classroom climate can also make a difference. Adults in schools can reinforce classroom lessons by modeling the social,

decision-making, and communication skills taught in the curriculum. Setting high expectations, open and supportive communication, a value of

caring and helping, and the creation of apositive environment can be as important as curriculum.

Teachers can find an abundance of classroom ideas at TeachersGuide.

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Kids who learn about the risks of drug abuse from their parents or caregivers are less likely to use drugs than kids who do not. Everyday parenting

actions such as establishing clear rules and consequences, praising and rewarding desirable behavior and staying involved in kids’ daily lives help

prevent drug use. Two-thirds of kids say that losing their parents’ respect and pride is one of the main reasons they don’t smoke marijuana or use

other drugs; your words and actions matter. Click here to view more resources for parents.

Schools, administrators, and school boards are under increasing pressure to institute drug testing among students. While a recent U.S. Supreme

Court ruling (Pottawatomie v. Earls, 2002) allows for school drug testing of students involved in extra-curricular activities, other state laws and rulings

(such as the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania ruling in Theodore v. Delaware Valley School District, 2002) call into question the legality of suspicionless

drug testing of students. Additionally, school drug testing has not proven itself  as an effective approach to substance abuse prevention, despite claims

by some to the contrary. School drug testing is a complex issue and it is important for school administrators and school boards to carefully consider a

number of factors  before adopting school drug testing of students. The links to the following documents will provide you with information on school

drug testing from various perspectives (none of which are representative of the opinion of the Council on Drug & Alcohol Abuse or the Council’s funders):

• What You Need To Know About Drug Testing In Schools
• Making Sense Of Student Drug Testing: Why Educators Are Saying No
• Relationship Between Student Illicit Drug Use And School Drug Testing Policies

School-Related Lancaster Information Center Fact Sheets:

DAFS013—Drug Retention Time in Urine
DAFS015—Asset Building For Coaches
DAFS016—40 Developmental Assets
DAFS017—Three Approaches to Prevention
DAFS019—Six Prevention Strategies
DAFS029—Substance Abuse Prevention 101

DAFS056—Substance Use Among Lancaster County Youth (PAYS) 2005 New!

DAFS041—Substance Use Among Lancaster County Youth (PAYS) 2003
DAFS042—Lancaster County Risk Factors (PAYS) 2003
DAFS043—Lancaster County Protective Factors (PAYS) 2003
DAFS044—Student Assistance Program: The SAP Process
DAFS045—Student Assistance Program: SAP Components
DAFS046—What Kids Need From Schools
DAFS048—Drug-Free School Policy 101

American Council for Drug Education (ACDE): ACDE works to diminish substance abuse through research, program development, and

information dissemination. The ACDE library has publications, teaching aids, and resource materials for parents and educators (K-12 and

College/University), awell as links to other sites for more information on the education and prevention of substance abuse.

Council On Drug & Alcohol Abuse: The Council On Drug & Alcohol Abuse (The Council) operates a number of prevention programs, including

the Elementary Youth Support Program(EYSP), an in-school prevention program for at-risk elementary & middle-school youth; Alternative Community

Interventions (ACI), which features a summer camp (Kids' Kamp), an after-school program (Future Generations), and a high-school leadership

program (Connections); PEAKS (for middle-school age youth); and Youth Alcohol Education Intervention (YAEI or Life Skills), an alternative sentencing

program for those cited for under-age drinking. The Council also operates the Lancaster Drug & Alcohol Information Center. Additionally, The Council

provides customized prevention and educations programs and services for youth, schools, parents, employers, and faith-based organizations.

Drug Information & Decision Support Assessment (DIADS): DIADS helps schools develop comprehensive drug abuse prevention programs

and offers an online assessment of the drug prevention program at your school.

Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13 (IU 13): Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13 (IU 13), one of 29 intermediate units across

Pennsylvania, is a regional educational agency whose mission is to assist local school districts to enhance educational opportunities. An excellent

resource for those interested in in-school prevention programming.

National Student Assistance Program (NASAP): NASAP advocates for the highest standards of practice for student assistance professionals

and continuing development of student assistance program services that promote student achievement and academic success, healthy safe & drug-

free lifestyles and strength-based approaches in working with youth.

Office of Safe & Drug Free Schools (OSDFS): The OSDFS is part of the U.S. Department of Education and administers, coordinates, and

recommends policy for improving quality and excellence of programs and activities. This web site provides information for school administrators,

classroom teachers and parents.

Pennsylvania Association of Student Assistance Professionals (PASAP): The Pennsylvania Association of Student Assistance

Professionals (PASAP) is a non-profit membership organization whose mission is to address the influence of alcohol, other drugs and mental health

issues that affect the welfare of our youth. PASAP is committed to providing support and networking in the areas of prevention, intervention, treatment,

aftercare, ongoing support services and education to all individuals or organizations who foster this same commitment.

Pennsylvania Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD): Pennsylvania SADD website includes information about local chapters,

education, conferences, contests, activities, and speakers.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Student Assistance Program: PA SAP provides leadership for developing a safe and drug-free environment

and mental health wellness in schools and communities across the Commonwealth. Barriers to learning will be removed and student academic

achievement will be enhanced through collaborative prevention, intervention, and post-intervention services.

TeachersGuide: Teachers Guide is a drug education resource that was developed by the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign and is part of the

AntiDrug website. Teachers Guide provides teachers withideas and resources for incorporating drug prevention messages into the classroom.

For more links, click here.

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