Are you looking for strategies to help students who abuse drugs or alcohol? If so, keep reading.
1. Connect with parents, agencies, or appropriate parties to tell them about the problem, identify the cause of the problem, and discuss potential solutions to the problem.
2. Give a drug information program for the individual student, the class, or the student body.
3. Give information on penalties for possession or use of alcohol and drugs at school.
4. Include the student in extracurricular learning activities to help them create appropriate interests.
5. Identify individuals the student may contact about their concerns (e.g., guidance counselor, school nurse, social worker, school psychologist, etc.).
6. Convey concerns to the administration and seek a referral to an agency for investigation of alcohol or drug abuse.
7. Urge the student to become involved in athletic or extracurricular learning activities.
8. Designate the student learning activities that would require interactions with a respected role model (e.g., older student, high school student, college student, community leader, someone held in esteem, etc.).
9. Give the student intelligent, accurate information about drugs and alcohol rather than using sensationalized scare tactics.
10. Give the student many chances for social and academic success.
11. Urge the student to excel in a particular area of interest (e.g., give information for the student; give personal and professional support; sponsor the student; etc.).
12. Provide frequent contact with the student during school hours (e.g., follow up on details of earlier communications, etc.).
13. Lead and direct the student. Do not lecture and make requirements.
14. Keep anecdotal records of the student’s behavior to track and monitor changes in behavior.
15. On occasions where logical consequences from peers happen (e.g., criticism, loss of friendship, etc.) because of the use of drugs or alcohol at school, bring the consequences to the student’s attention.
16. Urge the student’s parents to be positive and compassionate with the student as opposed to being negative and menacing.
17. Be a resource for parents by providing information on agencies, counseling programs, etc.
18. Teach the student to be happy with their personal best effort rather than perfection.
19. Consider using a classroom management app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.
20. Consider using an adaptive behavior management app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.
20. Consider using Alexa to help the student learn to behave appropriately. Click here to read an article that we wrote on the subject.
22. Click here to learn about six bonus strategies for challenging problem behaviors and mastering classroom management.
23. Consider using a socio-emotional learning app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.
24. Consider using an emotional intelligence app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.
25. Consider using a school counseling app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.
