Runninghead:SUBSTANCEABUSECURRICULUM

PPE310:HealthLiteracyforSchools
SubstanceAbuseCurriculum
SignatureAssignment
AbbyvanVianenandBrittanyBerry
CourseNumber:25966
Dr.Hesse

SUBSTANCEABUSECURRICULUM
2

Introduction
Illegaldruguseanddrugabusehasproventohavemanydevastatingeffectsonboth
usersandtheirfamilies,especiallywhenusersaredevelopingadolescents.Unfortunately,
adolescentsubstanceabuseisaphenomenonthataffectsstudentsalloverthecountry,resulting
inshortandlongtermconsequencesthatimpactthestudentsmentalandphysicalhealth,
families,andtheiracademicsuccess.WhilemiddleandhighschoolsacrossAmericaareplagued
bythisepidemic,teachersandschoolsarenotpowerlessinhelpingtheirstudentsgetbackonthe
righttrack.Solutionorienteddrugeducationcouldhelppromotestudentsmentalandphysical
healthwhilealsoprovidingthemwiththeirbestchanceatabrightfuture.Itcouldsupport
studentsindevelopingtheirresilienceandteachthemhowtoovercomepeerpressure,thereby
improvingthehealthandqualityoftheirsocialrelationships.MiddleschoolstudentsatI.G.
Conchos,ourplacementschool,areespeciallysusceptibletodruguseduetoalackofeducation
withintheirfamiliesandatendencytobeheavilyinfluencedbytheirpeers.Ourpotential
solutionincludestheimplementationofadrugresistancecurriculumcalled
JustSayNo
that
educatesstudentsaboutthedangersofdruguseandempowersthemwiththeconfidencetoresist
succumbingtopeerpressure.Tolearnmoreaboutthisprogram,followthislinktoAbbys
eportfolio(http://abbyvanvianeneducator.weebly.com/healthyleadership.html)orthislinkto
Brittanys(www.becomingmissberry.weebly.com).
ReviewofCurrentLiterature
WebsterStrattonandT.Taylorsstudy(NippingEarlyRiskFactorsintheBud:
PreventingSubstanceAbuse,Delinquency,andViolenceinAdolescenceThroughInterventions
TargetedatYoungChildren(08Years)),explorestheeffectivenessofcurrenteffortstoreduce

SUBSTANCEABUSECURRICULUM
3

childrenandadolescentsriskfordrugabuse,specificallyevaluatingtheeffectivenessofearly
interventionsinstudentsages08yearsold(WebsterStratton&Taylor,2009).Thearticle
suggestedthattargetingstudentsfromthisearlystageofdevelopmentismosteffectiveat
conditioningthemtoreducetheirriskbehaviorsbeforeantisocialhabitsform(WebsterStratton
&Taylor,2009).Thearticlebreaksdowntheseinterventionsintothreeelementspreventionary
measuresatthestudentshomesandschools,trainingforthechildrenandtheirparents,andthe
educationandempowermentofteachersinaidingtheirstudentsawayfromriskbehaviors
(WebsterStratton&Taylor,2009).
InRiskandprotectivefactorsforalcoholandotherdrugproblemsinadolescenceand
earlyadulthood:Implicationsforsubstanceabusepreventionfromthe
PsychologicalBulletin,
psychologistsJ.Hawkins,R.Catalano,andJ.Millerstudythefactorsthatcanresultin
heightenedriskofdrugabuseinadolescents(Hawkins,Catalano,&Miller,2006).Whilethe
studywasincrediblycomprehensive,thepsychologistsconcludedthattherewereavarietyof
factorsthatappearedtohaveanimpactonadolescentsriskfordrugabuse,mostsignificantly
economicdeprivation,neighborhooddisorganization,familyalcoholanddrugbehaviorand
attitudes,andpeerrejection(Hawkins,Catalano,&Miller,2006).Inotherwords,students
susceptibilitytoabusedrugsissignificantlyinfluencedbytheirsocioeconomicstatus,their
environment,bothatschoolandintheirhomesandneighborhoods,theirpeers,andtheirparents
(Hawkins,Catalano,&Miller,2006).Thisinformationwillbeusedlatertoattempttoidentifya
seriesofsolutionstothesefactorsthatcurrentlyresultinstudentshighsusceptibilitytoabuse
drugs,especiallyregardingstudentsfromourparticularschoolcommunity.

SUBSTANCEABUSECURRICULUM
4

ThisarticlebyR.Dembo,R.Robinson,K.Barrett,andJ.Warehamattemptstoexplore
therelationshipbetweensubstanceabuse(specificallymarijuanause)andsexualriskbehaviors
intruantadolescents(Dembo,Robinson,Barrett,&Wareham,2014).Thearticlealsodescribes
theimportanceofafamilialpresenceinchildrenslivesasactingasalimitingfactorontheirrisk
levelfordrugabuseandsexualriskbehaviors(Dembo,Robinson,Barrett,&Wareham,2014).
Inotherwords,thearticleclaimedthatparentsandfamilymemberscanplayanimportantrolein
helpingtheirchildrenavoiddrugandsubstanceabuse(Dembo,Robinson,Barrett,&Wareham,
2014).Thearticlealsosaidthattherewasacorrelationbetweenstudentswhoabusedmarijuana
andtheirsexualriskbehaviors,indicatingthatmarijuanauseinthesestudentscouldaffecttheir
sexualhealthaswellastheirphysicalandmentalhealth(Dembo,Robinson,Barrett,&
Wareham,2014).
InGenderDifferencesinRiskandProtectiveFactorsforAlcoholUseandSubstance
UseProblemsamongHispanicAdolescentsfromthe
JournalofChild&AdolescentSubstance
Abuse,
researchersE.L.Vaughan,R.Glassman,M.C.Jun,andB.Martinezstudythedifferent
patternsofdruguseandinfluencebetweenmaleandfemaleHispanicadolescentsingrades612
(Vaughan,Gassman,Jun,&Martinez,2015).Thestudyfoundthattherewasaneffectonthe
children'sdrugusethatwasrelatedtogender,andthatspecificallyhispanicfemaleshad
greaterpredictedprobabilitiesthanmalesforalcoholuse,bingedrinking,andriskforsubstance
abuseproblems(Vaughan,Gassman,Jun,&Martinez,2015).Inotherwords,femalestudents
fromthisculturalorethnicgeographicareataheightenedriskofparticipatingindruguse
comparedtotheirmalecounterparts.Thearticlethenattemptstoexplainthisphenomenon,
indicatingthatitmaybeduetoacombinationofsocialandenvironmentalpressuresthatresultin

SUBSTANCEABUSECURRICULUM
5

femalesbeingmoresusceptibletodruguseatthisparticularage(Vaughan,Gassman,Jun,&
Martinez,2015).
Inthearticle,AlcoholUseandRelatedBehaviorsAmongLateAdolescentUrban
Youths:PeerandParentInfluences,authorsTraciSchwinnandStevenSchinkeanalyze
studentschancesofalcoholusebasedoffoftheirpeerspressuringandinfluencingthem,aswell
astheirparentsgivingthemrulesagainstalcoholuse(Schwinn&Schinke,2013).Inshort,the
articleexplainshowpeeralcoholuseandoffersofalcoholfrompeersincreasechancesofan
adolescentsalcoholuse(Schwinn&Schinke,2013).Asfortheparentsrole,familysupportand
rulescreatedbyparentsthatwereagainstalcoholusedecreasedtheirchancesofdrinking
(Schwinn&Schinke,2013).Thisarticleenablesreaderstoseetheeffectsthatpeerpressureand
parentaldisciplinehaveonadolescents,andhowbothpartiescanincreaseordecreasealcohol
usewithinadolescents.
TheNationalInstituteonDrugAbusecreatedaguidetitled,PrinciplesofAdolescent
SubstanceUseDisorderTreatment:AResearchBasedGuide,whichprovidesyouthandadults
thestepstheyshouldtaketoworkthroughsubstanceabuseissues(Volkow,2013).Itisa
wellwrittenguidethatrequiredcollaborationfrommanyhealthprofessionals,behavioral
specialistsandsocialservices.Thisarticleaddressesallaspectsofdrugabuse,fromthephysical
andmentalhealthissuestothesocialconflicts(Volkow,2013).ThedirectoroftheNIDA,Nora
Volkow,introducesthearticledescribingthisguideasafocusonthespecialtreatmentneeds
forpeopleaged12to17(Volkow,2013).Shealsostates,Addictionisnottheonlydanger.
Abusingdrugsduringadolescencecaninterferewithmeetingcrucialsocialanddevelopmental
milestonesandalsocompromisecognitivedevelopment(Volkow,2013).Throughoutthe

SUBSTANCEABUSECURRICULUM
6

article,evidencebasedapproachestotreatingadolescentsubstanceabuseareaddressedfrom
behavioralandfamilybasedapproaches(Volkow,2013).Italsogivesthereaderresourcessuch
aspeerrecoverysupportgroupsandevenhighschoolscreatedtohelpadolescentsrecover
(Volkow,2013).Overall,thisguideisagreattooltoempowerparents,counselors,andfriends
withtheknowledgeandpracticesneededtohelptheirlovedones.
SchoolContext
I.G.ConchosisaRooseveltDistrictschoolinSouthPhoenix.ItisaTitle1schoolthat
teachesgradesK8.Thejuniorhighconsistsoftwosixthgradeclasses,oneseventhgradeclass,
andoneeighthgradeclass,andtheaveragejuniorhighclasssizeis28students.
Asof2014,
Conchosstudentbodyethnic/demographicmakeupof84.5%Hispanic,8.1%AfricanAmerican,
3.6%White,and2.8%AmericanIndian(ArizonaDepartmentofEducation,2016).While
thereiscurrentlynoofficialinformationregardingtheEnglishLanguageLearnerpopulationat
theschool,injuniorhighmostofourstudentsarecurrently emergingELLs.
Themiddleschool
hasalowrateofstudentattendancerelative totheschoolaverage(93%),andahighervolumeof
referralsandbehaviorproblemsaswell.
SynthesisofCurrentLiterature
Uponreviewingtheresearch,thestudieshadmanyfindingsincommon,especially
regardingtheriskfactorsofsubstanceabuseandthedangersdrugandalcoholusecanposeto
developingadolescents.
TheNationalInstituteonDrugAbusesguidetitled,Principlesof
AdolescentSubstanceUseDisorderTreatment:AResearchBasedGuide,
suggestedthat
adolescentsriskforsubstanceabusecanbedeterminedorinfluencedbythechildshomelives,
especiallyinregardstotheirsocioeconomicstatusandtheirparents/guardiansattitudetowards

SUBSTANCEABUSECURRICULUM
7

substanceabuse
(Volkow,2013)
.Theresearch
explainedwithinGenderDifferencesinRiskand
ProtectiveFactorsforAlcoholUseandSubstanceUseProblemsamongHispanicAdolescents
fromthe
JournalofChild&AdolescentSubstanceAbus
e
alsosuggeststhattheschool
environmentcanplayahugeroleininfluencingadolescentsdruguseaswell,bothinstudents
exposuretopeerpressure,especiallyforfemaleadolescents,andteachersattitudetowardsdrug
useandtheamountofdrugresistanceeducationstudentsareprovidedwith
(Vaughan,Gassman,
Jun,&Martinez,2015)
.
Theotherideamanyofthestudiessuggestedwerevariouspreventativemeasuresparents
andschoolscouldtakethatwereproventobeeffectiveinlimitingstudentsriskofdrugand
alcoholabuse.Onearticlesuggestedthattargetingstudentsfromtheearlierstagesoftheir
developmentisthemosteffectivewaytoreducetheirsubstanceabuseriskbehaviorsbeforepoor
habitsform(WebsterStratton&Taylor,2009).Thisparticulararticlesuggestedthatthese
interventionsshouldbecompletedinthreedifferentways.Thefirstinterventionwouldconsistof
preventionarymeasuresimplementedatthestudentshomesandschools,wherethesecond
involveddrug/alcoholresistancetrainingandeducationforthechildrenandtheirparents
(WebsterStratton&Taylor,2009).Thefinalinterventiondescribedtheeducationand
empowermentofteachersinaidingtheirstudentsawayfromriskbehaviors(WebsterStratton&
Taylor,2009).Theresearchalsoincludedaguidethatoffersnumerousvaluableresourceslike
peerrecoverysupportgroups,drugresistanceeducation,andevenprogramsdevelopedtohelp
adolescentsrecoverfromsubstanceabuse(Volkow,2013).Thisguidecanprovideagreatsource
ofempowermentforparents,counselors,andadolescentsbyprovidingthemwiththeknowledge

SUBSTANCEABUSECURRICULUM
8

andstrategiesneededtohelptheirlovedones.Thesesuccessfulinterventionsandresourceswere
theinspirationbehindtheelementsincludedinthepracticalimplicationssectionofthispaper.
PracticalImplications
ToencouragedrugandalcoholresistancethroughoutI.G.ConchosElementary,weve
proposedaseriesofworkshops,presentations,andlessonsforstudents,teachers,andparents.
Accordingtotheresearch,studentsrisklevelsforsubstanceabusecanbesignificantlyreduced
throughvariousinterventionsbythestudentsteachersandparents,anditwasourgoaltotryto
providethoseinterventionsforthestudentsatourschool.
StaffInvolvement
Unfortunately,overthepreviousthreeweeksatConchosElementary,wehavehad
multiplesubstanceabuseissueswithinoursixth,seventh,andeighthgradeclassrooms.Multiple
studentshavebeensuspendedfordruguseonourschoolcampusoratotherschoolswithinour
districtduringafterschoolprogramsandintramuralsportingevents.Surprisingly,wehaveeven
hadacasewherestudentsweredistributingandpurchasingdrugsduringschoolhourswhileon
campus.Wehavesatthroughcountlessmeetingsdiscussinghowwecanovercomethisissue
however,whenaskingadministrationaboutpromotingsubstanceabuseawarenessand
resistance,wegetlittletonofeedback.Thestaffseemssomewhathopelessandbelievesthat
studentsarebornintotheseconditionsandlifestyles,thereforewecannothelpthem.IfConchos
Elementarywantstoconquerthedrugsissueswehavebeenfacingrecently,itmustbeginwith
thestaffandadministration.Workshopsandresourcesshouldbeprovidedtothestaffoutlining
thedifficultiesofworkinginTitleIschoolsandlowincomeareaswhilealsoinspiringthemto
losetheirpredeterminedjudgementofstudentsandinsteadlearnhowtheycanhelpthem

SUBSTANCEABUSECURRICULUM
9

regardlessoftheirhomelifeconditions.
Theresourceswehopetoprovideincludecurricular
resourceslikelessons,assessments,activities,orpresentations,tradebooksaboutdrugand
alcoholresistance,workshopsthatteachvariousmethodsofimplementingappropriatelessonsto
steerstudentsawayfromdrugs,andhandoutstheteacherscangivetothestudentsthatprovide
themwithfurtheropportunitiesforsupportormoreinformation.Wehopethatingivingthestaff
andadministrationtheresourcesnecessarytofeelcomfortableteachingtheirstudentsaboutdrug
resistance,teacherswillbemoreopentodoingso,andmorestudentscanbereachedasaresult.
ParentInvolvement
Theworkshopsprovidedtothestaffcouldalsobereworkedtoallowparentsandgroup
homefacilitatorstoparticipateaswell.Manyparentsofourstudentsarelabeledasbadparents
whodonotraisetheirchildrenpositivelyand/orhaveterribleparentalsupervisionskills.
However,thisisnotalwaysthecase,andmostparentsfeeljustashopelessasourstaffmembers
do.Parentsmaybecompletelyunawareofstudentbehaviorbecausetheyworkmorethanone
jobensuringahomeanddecentlifefortheirchildren.Theymaynotnoticethebehaviorthatwe
asteachersseeeverysingleday.Itisimportantforparentstobeawareofthesignsand
symptomsofsubstanceabuse,andalsoforusaseducatorstoinformparentsifwenoticethese
signsorchangesinastudentsbehavior.Wemustalsoinformparentsoftheshorttermand
longtermeffectsofsubstanceabuse,andexplainthatitcanalsocausechangestotheirchilds
physicalhealth,cognitivegrowthandemotionalstability.Pamphletscouldbecreatedtoinclude
allofthisinformation,aswellasresourcessuchashotlinesandrehabilitationcentersthatcan
helpiftheirchildisabusinganysubstances.
Wealsoplanoninvitingtheparentstotheschoolto
participateintheselessonsorworkshopsalongsidetheirstudents,toencouragethestudentsto

SUBSTANCEABUSECURRICULUM
10

understandthecommunityofsupporttheyhaveaccesstoathomeandatschool.Wehopethat
includingtheparentsinoureffortstosteerthestudentsawayfromdrugswillhelpbuildasense
ofmutualsupportbetweenallstakeholdersinthestudentslives,andalsoencourageparentsto
feelcomfortableeducatingtheirchildrenaboutdrugresistanceathome.
FamilyandCommunityInvolvement
Ournextinterventionwouldconsistofinvolvingallotherthirdpartystakeholdersin
studentslivestheircommunitymembers.AsConchossometimesstrugglesinthisregard,wed
lovetoencouragemorefamilyandcommunityinvolvementwiththeschoolandstudentsby
askingguestspeakerstocomeandsharetheirpersonaldrugresistancestorywiththestudentsto
actassortofaninspiration.Acoupleofmonthsago,asuccessfulformerstudentreturnedto
Conchostotalkalittlebitabouthowhisbasketballcareerwouldnthavebeenpossiblewithout
hishardworkinschool,andthespeechreallymotivatedourstudentstoworkharderandapply
themselvesinschool.Wehopethesamewillbetrueintheinvolvementofcommunitymembers
forthepurposeofsubstanceabuseawarenessandprevention,andwehopethatthesesuccessful
communitymemberswillrelatetoourstudentsandinspirethemtoavoidsubstanceabuseatall
costs.
Inordertodoso,wewillfirstneedtoresearchcommunitymembersthatcouldpotentially
influenceourstudentschoicetoabusedrugsoralcoholthroughtheirsuccessorrelatability.This
couldmeanlookingtoConchosformerstudentsforsupportandseeifanyofthemwouldbe
interestedincomingtospeaktoourstudents,orevenaskingparentsofcurrentConchosstudents
tocomesharetheirsuccessstories.Indoingso,wearefindingrelevantcommunitymembersthat
havesharedexperienceswithourstudents,increasingtheirrelatabilityandhopefullytheirability
tomakeadifferenceintheprobabilityofdrugabusebyourstudents.

SUBSTANCEABUSECURRICULUM
11

DrugResistanceEducation
Assubstanceabusecansometimesstemfromignorance,wefindithighlyvaluablefor
teacherstoeducatetheirstudentsa
drugresistancecurriculumintheirclassroomsaswell.
Teachingdrugresistancecurriculumisagreatwaytopositivelyinfluenceyourstudentschoices
andhelpthemresistsubstanceabuseandpeerpressure.Oneofoursourcesisaguidetitled
PrinciplesofAdolescentSubstanceUseDisorderTreatment:AResearchBaseGuide,which
waswrittenbyresearchersfromthe
NationalInstituteonDrugAbuse.Thisguideisagreat
resourcethateducatorscouldkeepintheirclassroomsandrefertowhennecessary.Withinthe
guide,youwillfindfrequentlyaskedquestionswithinformativeresponses,resourcesfor
rehabilitation,helpgroupsandtherapy,andhowtoeffectivelytreatsubstanceabuseasteam
includingallstakeholdersinthepersondealingwiththeaddiction.Throughthiscurriculum
implementedbyeveryteacherineveryclassroom,studentsofallageswilllearnaboutthe
dangersofdruguse,overcomingpeerpressure,andresourcesthatwillprovidefurtherhelpif
studentsortheirfriendsareinneedofit.Wehopethatthiswillnotonlyencouragestudentsto
helpthemselvesbyresistingdrugsandalcohol,butencouragethemtohelptheirfriendsaswell.
Wecanalsoaskourstudentstoselfeducateaswell,andcreateresearchpresentationsaboutthe
effectsandconsequencesofdrugusetosharewiththeclass.Indoingso,wehopetoincrease
studentsexposuretothedangersofdruguseandencouragethemtoavoidthemandfind
alternativepastimesthatarehealthierandsafer.
Marketing
and
StudentEngagement
Studentsmayalsoenjoycreatingantidrugcampaignpostersandflyerstodisplay
throughouttheschool.Thiscanserveasbothamarketingstrategyandanopportunityforstudent

SUBSTANCEABUSECURRICULUM
12

interactionwiththecontentoftheprogram.Thecreationoftheseposterswillcreatestudent
advocateswhoareallforresistingsubstanceabuseandcanpositivelyinfluenceyoungerstudents
andpeers.WhatConchosneedsissubstanceabuseawarenessandinformationonhowto
respondtoandresistpeerpressurewhenitcomestodrugs.Studentcreatedmarketingtools,such
asposters,areasimplewaytoallowthesemessagestobedisplayedtotheentirestudentbody
andencouragethemtomakebetterchoicesforthemselves.Studentswillalsohavethe
opportunitytoworktogetherwiththeirteacherstocreatelistsofresourcesthattheyortheir
peerscanaccessiftheyneedadditionalinformationorsupportinresistingdrugs.Thesewillbe
madeavailabletootherstudentsattheschool,andwillhopefullyteachstudentsmoreaboutthe
supporttheyareofferedintheprocess.Studentswillalsohavetheopportunitytoassistteachers
andstaffmembersinplanningandfacilitating
anyassembliesorguestspeakersthatarefeatured
attheschool,andcanthereforetakeownershipoverboththeirownandtheschoolcommunitys
effortstoresistsubstanceabuse.
Inthissense,studentscandeterminewhattheywanttolearn
aboutinregardstodrugresistanceandwhowouldbemosteffectiveatteachingthem,and
teacherscanworkwiththestudentsandusetheirinputtohelpmaketheseassembliesas
beneficialandeffectiveaspossible.
DistrictSupport
ThelastthingConchoswouldneedinordertomakethisplansuccessfulissupportfrom
thedistrict,bothideawiseandfinancially.Inordertoreceivedistrictsupportandapproval,we
wouldbeginbyexplainingthisproposalanditsnecessitytodistrictadministrators,makingsure
toemphasizetheissueswecurrentlyfaceinvolvingourstudentsdrugabuseandhowthisplan
wouldbeeffectiveinreducingtheriskofstudentssubstanceabuse.Wewouldlayoutthe

SUBSTANCEABUSECURRICULUM
13

specificbudgetforanymoneyweareaskingfortocoversuppliesormaterialsandbeveryopen
tomakingadjustmentswherevernecessary.
Studentscanwriteapetitionorpersuasivelettersto
helpencouragetheadministrationordistricttosupportthisprogram.
Wewouldevenaskfor
districtparticipationintheprogram,andseeiftheycouldprovideanyextraresourcesor
stakeholderstotheschoolorwouldbeinterestedinhelpingusapplytheprogramtoother
schoolswithinthedistrictaswell.Inaccomplishingallthesethings,webelievethedistrictwill
bemorethanwillingtosupporttheprogramandConchosstudentsgoalsandfutures.
Conclusion
Resistingdrugmisuseandabuse,especiallyinadolescence,isessentialinordertogrow
uphappyandhealthy.Weaseducatorshavearesponsibilitytoourstudentstogivethemtheir
bestchanceatmakingthechoicesthatwillhelpthemandtheirfutures,andassistthemintheir
resistancetodrugmisuseandabuse.Wecandosobyinvolvingstudentsandtheirfamiliesin
drugresistanceeducation,workingwithstudentstoimprovetheirresilienceandtheirsocial
interactions,andbygivingthemthetoolsnecessarytoovercomepeerpressure.
Throughourprogram,
JustSayNo
,wehopetoreducetheriskthatadolescentsfacein
regardstotheirdrugabuseandmisuse,andprovidethemwiththeconfidence,knowledge,and
abilitytoresistdrugs.Inthisproposal,wevedescribedourintentionstocreateandimplementa
drugresistancecurriculumthateducatesourstudentsonthedangersofdrugabuse,howtoavoid
peerpressureavoidance,andthelocationsofresourcesavailabletothemiftheyorafriendneed
helpwithresistingdrugs.Thisplanalsoincludestheeducationandinclusionofstudentsparents
onthedangersofdrugabuseandwhattheycandotohelptheirchildrentoresistdrugs.The
programalsoincludesadministrative,staff,andcommunityinvolvement,whereeachteacher

SUBSTANCEABUSECURRICULUM
14

sharesresourcesandinformationwiththeirownstudentsandguestspeakersandadvocatescan
enterourclassroomandsharetheirstoriesandknowledgewithourstudents.Finally,theplan
alsoincludesaseriesofvisualinfographicsandmarketingproductsthatstudentscanaccess
aroundtheclassroomandschoolthatwillremindthemofthedangersofdruguseandencourage
themtoberesistant.
Inoneyear,weplantointroduceourmovementtotheupperelementarygrades(5th8th)
becausethesestudentsareatthehighestriskofpeerpressurewhichcancausethemtomake
poordecisions,suchasbeginningtousedrugs.Weknowthatthisagegroupisnotjusthighly
influenced,buttheyarealsoveryinfluentialtotheiryoungersiblingsandfamilymembers.
WorkinginTitleIschools,wehavenoticedthatfamiliesareusuallysprinkledamongstdifferent
gradesataschoolandallhaveaninfluenceononeanother.Byteachingtheupperelementary
studentsresiliencyskillsandmakingthemadvocates,wecancreateapositivechainofhabits
throughouttheentireschool.
Atourthreeyearmark,wewouldliketoseeJustSayNogobeyondfifththrough
eighthgradersandbecomeaprograminfusedthroughouteverygrade.Wewilldothisby
workingwithadministrationandtheschoolstafftocreateandimplementminilessonsand
activitiesthatstudentscandoinordertoeducatethemselvesontherisksofsubstanceabuseand
thetoolsneededtoendsubstanceabuse.
Byyearfive,wehopeourprogramwillmovebeyondourschoolandreachtheentire
district.Atthispointwewouldliketoseeitasastudentdrivenprogramratherthanjustaschool
requirementmadebythestaffandteachers.Wewoulduseartcontestsasawindowforstudents
tohelpuscreatenewpostersforJustSayNo,aswellasmerchandisewiththeartcreatedby

SUBSTANCEABUSECURRICULUM
15

them.Studentswhohavepersonalexperiencestosharecanholdsocraticseminarswithstudents
attheirgradelevelanddiscussresiliencyskills,peerpressuremomentstheyvepersonallydealt
withandwhytheychoosetosaynoratherthanbecomeanotherstatisticasadruguser.
Wehopethat,inimplementingthisprogram,wewillhelpprovideourstudentsat
Conchosandstudentseverywhereabetterchanceatresistingdrugmisuseandabuseand
growinguphappy,healthy,andsuccessful.

SUBSTANCEABUSECURRICULUM
16

References
ArizonaDepartmentofEducation.(n.d.).RetrievedJanuary25,2016,from

http://www.azed.gov/
Dembo,R.,Robinson,R.B.,Barrett,K.,&Wareham,J.(2014).BriefInterventionforTruant

YouthSexualRiskBehaviorandMarijuanaUse.
JournalofChildandAdolescent
SubstanceAbuse,24
(5).RetrievedFebruary12,2016,from

mmmm
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268451088_Brief_Intervention_for_Truant_Yo
uth_Sexual_Risk_Behavior_and_Marijuana_Use
Hawkins,J.D.,Catalano,R.F.,&Miller,J.Y.(2006).Riskandprotectivefactorsforalcohol

andotherdrugproblemsinadolescenceandearlyadulthood:Implicationsforsubstance
abuse
prevention.
PsychologicalBulletin,

112
(1),64105.RetrievedFebruary12,2016,from
http://adai.washington.edu/confederation/2008readings/Catalano_86.pdf
Schwinn,T.M.,&Schinke,S.P.(2013).AlcoholUseandRelatedBehaviorsAmong
LateAdolescent
UrbanYouths:PeerandParentInfluences.
JournalofChild&

AdolescentSubstance

Abuse,

23
(1),5864.RetrievedFebruary12,2016,
from
j
https://www.researchgatev.net/publication/265970829_Alcohol_Use_and_Related_

SUBSTANCEABUSECURRICULUM
17

kjkjkjk
Behaviors_Among_LateAdolescent_Urban_Youths_Peer_and_Parent_Influences
.
Vaughan,E.L.,Gassman,R.A.,Jun,M.C.,&Martinez,B.J.(2015).GenderDifferencesin

RiskandProtectiveFactorsforAlcoholUseandSubstanceUseProblemsamong
HispanicAdolescents.
JournalofChild&AdolescentSubstanceAbuse,

24
(5),
243254.RetrievedFebruary13,2016,from
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1067828X.2013.82660
Volkow,N.D.(2014).PrinciplesofAdolescentSubstanceUseDisorderTreatment:A
ResearchBasedGuide.
NationalInstituteonDrugAbuse,

14
(7953),142.Retrieved
February12,2016,from

https://teens.drugabuse.gov/sites/default/files/podata_1_17_14_0.pdf
WebsterStratton,C.,&Taylor,T.(2009).NippingEarlyRiskFactorsintheBud:Preventing

SubstanceAbuse,Delinquency,andViolenceinAdolescenceThroughInterventions
TargetedatYoungChildren(08Years).
PreventionScience,

2
(3),165192.
Retrieved

February12,2016,from

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A:1011510923900

SUBSTANCEABUSECURRICULUM
18

SUBSTANCEABUSECURRICULUM
19

AppendixA

SUBSTANCEABUSECURRICULUM
20

AppendixB

SUBSTANCEABUSECURRICULUM
21

AppendixC