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Helping Children: Drug Abuse/Violence

Prevention

Title IV RequirementFor Safe and Drug-Free Schools

Broken Arrow Public Schools

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The Drugs of Choice for Children Gateway Drugs (Parents are using….)

Tobacco Alcohol Marijuana

Inhalants (Children can easily get hold of…..) Permanent Markers Spray Paint Epoxy glue

Non-Prescription (Usually in medicine cabinets….) “Robo” (chugging cough syrup – usually Robitussin) “Punch Bowling” (throw mixed drugs in a bowl and grab

a handful) Prescription Drugs

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Risk Factors- What to look for…. Changes in friends Negative changes in schoolwork/grades Increased secrecy about possessions/activities Use of incense, candles to hide odors/smoke Subtle changes in conversations with friends: use

of coded language Changing in clothing choices Increased borrowing of money Evidence of drug paraphernalia

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Risk Factors- What to look for…. Evidence of use of inhalants like nail polish,

hairspray, correction fluid, etc. (Rags/paperbags are sometimes used as accessories)

New use of mouthwash/breath mints to cover up smell of alcohol

Bottles of eye drops which may be used to mask bloodshot eyes

Missing prescription drugs

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Degrees of Dependency

USAGE –Try it!

ABUSING –Continuous drug taking becomes a habit.

ADDICTION – Now you’re hooked!

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Children of Alcoholics-Drug Abuse Message to Children:

You didn’t cause it.You can’t control it.You can’t cure it.

What can we do as educators? Support and Listen Provide Safety Provide Consistency

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Children of Alcoholics/Drug Abuse (continued)

Children can play these various roles in a dysfunctional family and these roles can also be seen in the classroom: Hero – (aka The Responsible Child) Scapegoat (aka The Placator) Clown (aka The Jokester) Lost Child (aka The Adjuster) Acting-Out (aka The Acting Out Child!)

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Development Assets for Middle Childhood Identified by Search Institute Refer to handout for

Early Childhood and Middle Childhood that addresses Elementary School Aged Children.

What assets can we address here at our school?

To teach is to touch a life………forever.

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What is bullying? Definition of bullying and examples. Punching, shoving, and other acts that

hurt people physically Spreading bad rumors about people Keeping certain people out of a "group” Teasing people in a mean way Getting certain people to "gang up" on

others

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Bullying Facts It happens more often than most people

think. Studies show that between 15%-25% of U.S. students are bullied with some frequency (Melton et al, 1988, Nansel et al, 2001)

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Bullying Facts It can mess up a child’s future. Young

people who bully are more likely than those who don’t bully to skip school and drop out of school. They are more likely to smoke, drink alcohol and get into fights. (Nansel et al, 2003, Olweus, 2003)

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Bullying Facts It frightens some people so much that they

skip school. As many as 160,000 students may stay home on any given day because they are afraid of being bullied. (Pollack, 1998)

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Bullying Facts It can lead to huge problems later on in

life. Children who bully are more likely to get into fights, vandalize property, and drop out of school. And 60% of boys who were bullies in middle school had at least one criminal conviction by the age of 24. (Olweus, 1993)

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Why do kids bully? Because they see others doing it. Because it’s what they think they need to do to

hang out with the ‘cool’ crowd. Because it makes them feel stronger, smarter or

better than the person they are bullying. Because it is a good way to keep others from

bullying them.

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Warning signs a child is being bullied Comes home with torn, damaged, or missing pieces of clothing, books, or

other belongings; Has unexplained cuts, bruises, and scratches; Has few, if any friends, with whom he or she spends time; Seems afraid of going to school, walking to and from school, riding the

school bus, or taking part in organized activities with peers (such as clubs); Takes a long, “illogical” route when walking to or from school; Has lost interest in school work or suddenly begins to do poorly in school; Appears sad, moody, teary, or depressed when he or she comes home; Complains frequently of headaches, stomachaches, or other physical

ailments; Has trouble sleeping or has frequent bad dreams; Experiences a loss of appetite; Appears anxious and suffers from low self-esteem.

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How can we help children who are bullied? Don't do further damage by lending too much support in public.

Kids are concerned about what their peer group sees and knows. It may be more helpful to lend your supportive words and gestures in private.

Spend time with the student. Learn about what's been going on. Listen. Get the facts (who, what, when, where, and how) and assess the student's feelings about the bullying. Is this the first time he or she has been hurt by bullying, or is this something that's been going on for a while? Recognize that this discussion may be difficult for the student.

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How can we help children who are bullied? Praise the student for their courage to discuss bullying incidents

with you. Explain how helpful they are being by providing this important information, not only for themselves, but also for the rest of the students and staff.

Give the student a voice and ask them what they need to feel safe. Emphasize the confidential nature of your discussion and let them know who will and will not be privy to this information.

Refer the situation to the counselor and principal/administration!

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What are we doing now to address this issue? Classroom guidance lessons about bullying

behavior and how to handle it. Weekly morning announcements about

bully busting facts to educate students. No tolerance policy at school for bullying

behaviors. Other suggestions?

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Online sources for more information http://stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/kids/defau

lt.aspx

http://www.schoolsafety.us/Bullying-p-26.html

http://www.kidsturncentral.com/links/bullylinks.ht

http://facs.pppst.com/bullying.html

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Questions or Comments????