Tackling the many issues surrounding illegal drug use with students can often feel like an uphill battle.  But there are always bright spots in the challenge and plenty of reasons to keep pushing forward.  Project ALERT remains committed to helping teachers and other community leaders inform youth about the negative impacts of substance use.  This edition of the Educator connects you to several interesting updates on the rise in prescription drug misuse among adolescents.  See how introducing the effects on brain development to the conversation and other innovative approaches are helping to deliver important information to students at several middle schools; we think you’ll agree with the positive way some West Virginia University undergrads have taken time to “pay it forward” to some much younger scholars.

Our Project ALERT Prescription Drugs page can be found here. Take some time to review our supplemental manual and explore our resource guide on how to enhance your sessions with prescription drug information.  Also, check out the Project ALERT video on prescription drugs on YouTube.

Whether you’re hunkering down in Hackensack, soaking up the sun in Sarasota, or planning your escape route from El Niño in East L.A., Project ALERT wishes you a Happy New Year and a wonderful winter season.  And remember…Spring Break is just around the corner!

Project ALERT encourages you to check out these recent articles on tackling the issue of prescription drug misuse among adolescents. Some of these new approaches really caught our eyes!

1. Older students are paying it forward in a West Virginia community

Second-year students at the West Virginia University School of Pharmacy spent the day at West Preston Middle School in Masontown educating students about the dangers of substance and prescription drug abuse. (Link to full article.)

2. NOPE: New programs against prescription drug abuse

Turning the focus to brain development and risks is a relatively new approach in prescription drug prevention education. (Link to full article.)

3. Never too young to learn prescription drug safety

See what types of prevention education sessions some schools are hosting. (Link to full article.)

4. Secret life of teens: The dangerous drug parents aren't talking about with kids

Are kids raiding their parents’ stash? Find out about another good reason for teachers to incorporate solid prescription drug information into Project ALERT lessons. (Link to full article.)

 
5. The group Rise Together speaks to Wautoma students and community about addiction

Those formerly struggling with addiction are presenting at school forums on prescription drug use.  (Link to full article.)

 

Visit the Resources tab at www.projectalert.com to find our supplemental manual on prescription drug use by teens.

The manual provides clinically accurate, accessible, up-to-date information about teen use of five specific classes of drugs: over-the-counter cough and cold medications, prescription painkillers, sedatives, steroids, and stimulants. The manual is intended as a resource for educators so they can be prepared to answer students' questions as they come up during lessons. 

Also on this page is a tip sheet from Project ALERT trainer Tom Butler on how to incorporate solid prescription drug prevention into Project ALERT lessons.

Visit our Videos page to view our supplemental video on prescription drugs.

Bookmark this page and share the brief video with students during lessons. The video is also available on our YouTube page.

 

The Educator is very excited to announce that all of the videos that accompany many of the core and booster lessons will soon be available via iTunes Podcast!  Facilitators, especially those who may not have internet access in their classrooms, will have an additional way to download and store video content on their personal or classroom computers. And in true Project ALERT style, the videos will be available at no charge to users! 

Watch for additional information and complete instructions in the spring 2016 edition of the Educator.