Accessing Substance Abuse Prevention Programs for Schools

Current estimates indicate that over 6 million children live with at least one parent who is a substance abuser or is substance dependent. Children who are exposed to drug and alcohol abuse are at a greater risk of experiencing academic and behavior difficulties. Additionally, several studies have shown that students with emotional and behavioral disorders, who are already at risk for school failure, are also at heightened risk for substance abuse. Schools are in a unique position to help families access resources for their children and act as a place where services can be provided to many children who are at risk for substance use. This article describes ways to bring substance abuse prevention programming into the schools.