Alcohol and Other Drugs
Substance abuse can have significant negative impacts on mental health, leading to anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. Moreover, excessive alcohol and drug use can impair cognitive abilities, memory, and academic performance, which can affect a student's future prospects.
By promoting healthy behaviours and providing access to resources and support, schools can help students make informed decisions and stay safe.
Responding to an Individual Student
Depending on available resources, schools may choose to conduct a face to face assessment especially for students with higher risk, eg regular drug use and daily alcohol consumption. Based on previous responses, these numbers are very small. Schools would be able to identify these students from the analytics dashboard.
For schools with limited resources and want to provide some self help information to students, especially those with lower level risks but have asked for help, here is some template wording for follow up - link here
Whole of School Responses
We know that these things make a difference:
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Having a positive school environment, where students feel like they belong and that their wellbeing is important.
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Having a lot of opportunities to engage in outside of class activities throughout the year.
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Having opportunities to develop skills in critical thinking, especially about what the social norms in their community are.
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Identifying students with slipping attendance or achievement, and getting them support as early as possible.
Link for further information from the NZ Drug Foundation available here.
Links to Other Resources
Presentation by Dr Annabel Prescott from the NZ Drug Foundation on our Resources page
The Level - The Level is run by the NZ Drug Foundation and is a space for people who use alcohol and other drugs, their friends and their whānau.
The Drug Foundation - Education and Young People
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