Start Here | Prevention | Treatment | Recovery

The Time To Invest … Is Now .

The Time To Invest … Is Now .

WHAT CAN WE DO TO PREVENT SUBSTANCE USE?

1) K-12 Prevention Education Curriculum

School Districts can help prevent kids from using drugs and alcohol by embedding curriculum and prevention activities into the school day year-round.

2) Surveys Measuring Problem Behaviors

GRADES 9-12 NH Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) given every other year
Helps identify where prevention efforts should be focused.
2021 Results for New Hampshire

GRADES 6-8: Teen Assessment Project (TAP) survey every 3 years
Helps identify behaviors and substances to address in middle schools.
  2023 TAP RESULTS: Monadnock Region

3) Policies & Procedures Modification

We encourage school districts and employers to develop more supportive, less punitive policies & procedures for substance-use related issues, treating violations as a critical point of intervention that could change a student’s life.  

Supportive Policies may include:

  • less out-of-school suspension time

  • meeting with parents and behavior team within 24 hours of a violation

  • reintegration recovery supports post-treatment

  • allowing kids to attend support meetings during the day

  • allowing kids to make up missed work

  • brief screening and intervention, and referrals to treatment

4) Addiction Professional Development for Staff

We know if students are not "present" they suffer personally and academically.  Trainings help improve response skills when confronted with new challenges.

5) Transition Workshops 

Schools can develop transition workshops to prepare students and parents for the culture in a new school from elementary to middle school, from middle school to high school, and from high school to college and beyond! Workshops highlight what parents can expect in the new year, how to better provide extra support, and how to identify possible use and spot red flags.  
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6) Youth Campaigns and Opportunities

We provide access to a variety of youth activities including:

  • Youth Leadership Councils

  • Police and Rescue Personnel apprentice programs

  • Student Ambassador programs (school year)

  • Community service opportunities and Volunteerism

  • After school option with character building components

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Community Prevention Planning

Everyone plays a role in preventing use and abuse.  Many communities don't think they have a problem, while others have prevention already happening. 

STEP 1 - Conduct a Community Assessment to determine the level of readiness : identify assets, strengths, gaps, substances to address, and resources and efforts currently happening to reduce duplication. 

STEP 2 -  Build Social Capacity and secure resources to move forward with prevention plan development and implementation.

STEP 3 - Develop a 12-month Action Plan to address priorities and include:  

  • Provide Information — presentations, workshops, ads, and resources

  • Enhance Skills — Training for kids and adults to increase skills

  • Provide Support — Support groups and focus groups

  • Enhance Access — Make treatment accessible to reduce relapse

  • Change Consequence — Increase prices to decrease underage buying

  • Change Physical Design — Install cameras and lights, or cleaning up parks

  • Modify & Changing Policies — To be less punitive & more supportive: less out of school suspension time, let kids make up missed work, offer recovery supports in school or workplace, and offer incentives for quitting.

Step 4 - Implement the new plan.

Step 5 - Evaluate the plan annually to gauge how its working

A Good Plan is . . .

1.   Sustainable — prevention  activities are built into school and business budgets to ensure long-term sustainability.

2.  Culturally Competent — strategies must be culturally appropriate for the school or community they take place in.
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MORE RESOURCES:

Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention
Program guide of evidence-based prevention programs for youth  

National Institute on Drug Abuse
Preventing drug use and abuse

New Futures
100 N Main St, Suite 400, Concord, NH
www.new-futures.org/

Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws
NH Dept. of Justice, 33 Capitol Street, Concord, NH

 NH Teen Institute 
112 West Pearl Street, Nashua, NH
www.nhteeninstitute.org/

NH Tobacco Helpline - Text QUITNOW to 22122
www.TryToStopNH.org

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Are you a new Parent?
Check this out!
NEW-PARENT PARENTING

PARENT TALK KIT

DOES
PREVENTION WORK?
The science says yes.
STRATEGIC PREVENTION FRAMEWORK

OTHER PEOPLE’S MEDS

  • Opioids ~ can cause choking, slowed breathing, paranoia, fever, abnormal heartbeat, seizures, coma, or death.

  • Addiction ~ Once you become dependent on a drug, you need more of it to get high. Quitting without help can cause nausea, shaking, sweating, insomnia, vomiting, and depression.
    • Accidents ~ Driving while drugged could get you in an accident, and if you get stopped you could face severe penalties.
    • Failing Grades ~ While some students take medication to do better in school - don't, you can become addicted.
    • Legal trouble ~ Taking medication that isn’t yours - is illegal. Chances of committing a crime go up when you’re high - and if you’re caught, you can face suspension, fines, jail time.

Students at the Walk for Recovery!

PARENTS & CAREGIVERS .....

Talk about the risks of using alcohol, illegal drugs, and medicine not prescribed to them.
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Set consequences for breaking rules.
If they break rules, enforce them.
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Make it clear - never take
medicine that isn’t theirs.
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Be involved ~ Go to after-school activities, eat together, and meet your kids teachers :)
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When your kids aren’t home, make sure you know where they are and who they’re with.
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Know the signs of use, depression
and anxiety.  Get help by asking your school nurse and family doctor.
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Be a good role model. Kids who see  parents abusing drugs or medications are more likely to develop problems. 
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 Know the signs of stress and how to manage it by exercising, talking to a friend or therapist, watching something funny, or playing a game.
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BECOME A CERTIFIED PREVENTION SPECIALIST FOR THE STATE OF NH
Prevention Certification Board of New Hampshire
PO Box 1088, Manchester, NH     nhpreventcert.org  

IC & RC Credentialing  
www.internationalcredentialing.org/cred101