By TR Robertson
The February meeting of the Carlsbad Youth Enrichment Services Collaboration (YES) heard a presentation from Jim Crittenden, Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Prevention Coordinator for the San Diego County Office of Education, and Alex Swift, Project Specialist. Jim and Alex gave a power point presentation describing the various programs, resources, lesson plans and other information available to educators, parents, students, and families dealing with issues surrounding alcohol, tobacco and drug education and prevention.
The web site, available to everyone, can be found by going to www.sdcoe.net/students/substance-abuse-prevention-eduction (858-292-3500). Jim began by going over some of the key access points of the web site. An amazing collection of information and resources are available to find material to use in classroom education or for families/parents to use as educational tools or help in dealing with alcohol, tobacco, and drug issues. Clicking on these sites will take you to material in finding out information about Fentanyl, a major current concern in the battle against drug abuse. Jim said it is estimated that 80-90% of drugs on the street today have the deadly drug Fentanyl in them. Some of the sites discuss the Friday Night Live programs offered by the Office of Education. The Naloxone Resources and Training site discusses the opioid reversal nasal spray and its importance in assisting those in need. One major concern today is Vaping and its relationship to drug use. Jim said THC products are in up to 90% of all vaping products. There are Youth Leadership Programs students and parents can get information on as well as Tobacco Use Prevention information. Going through the web site can lead to DEA programs and resources for educators, parents, students, and families. The Natural High site (www.naturalhigh.org ) is useful as a resource to here from professionals and well-known athletes how speak, in short videos, about how to get mentally high within their chosen field. The National Institute on Drug Abuse site (www.nida.nih.gov ) focuses on the science of substance abuse and its effect on the human brain. Jim and several others in the room spoke about Rocky Herron, a former DEA agent who gives unique and up-front presentations on drug use, drug trafficking and making responsible and educated decisions – information at www.rockyherron.com .
Alex Swift spoke about the Stanford Medicine Reach Lab site (www.med.stanford.edu/halpern-felsher-reach-lab.html ) for use in classrooms, lessons, videos providing a tool kit on prevention of tobacco and vaping use. The sessions are divided into Elementary, Middle School and High School units. The lessons cover addiction, brain development, effect on the environment, methods used to target young people and the effect tobacco and vaping has on mental health and stress. Marijuana use is also covered. The Healthy Futures section covers intervention and the hazards of nicotine and E-cigarettes as well as their effect on the environment. Alex also gives small group presentations dealing with the hazards of vaping and marijuana use, especially its effect on the human body and brain. Kick It California also deals with how to quit vaping – www.kickitca.org . The Carlsbad Unified web site has numerous links to go to for information and articles on tobacco, drugs, alcohol, and wellness. Go to www.carlsbadusd.net/wellness to get to links on Tobacco Use Prevention, Ca Healthy Kids information, Bully and Positive Behavior and more (760-331-5000).
The County Board of Supervisors has funded Project Alert, www.projectalert.com for free and easy to use programs on substance abuse strategies. Twenty-four schools were initially used in a piolet project using curriculum and follow-up research to determine its effective use in schools.
Summing up, Jim said there is not a lack of resources available for educators, schools, parents, students, and families in dealing with and finding out about substance abuse, drugs, tobacco, vaping and a wealth of wellness issues. What is lacking is people and schools using the available resources. He also said there is so much information at times navigating the different web sies becomes a little difficult. Another issue is if parents have the resources, then they must be able to know how to use it effectively. He said at times the small group presentations are effective and Peer to Peer programs are even more effective, especially high schoolers speaking with middle schoolers or elementary schoolers.
Some other sites for more information:
www.teen.smokefree.gov
www.FHCSD.org – Family Health Centers
www.vistacommunityclinic.org
www.carlsbadca.gov/carlsbadconnect
