Documentation

Write notes about numbers of tardies, absences, lost school work, inability to remember, obnoxious or belligerent attitude, change in dress or hair care, spaciness, tiredness, bronchial cough, runny eyes, stomach problems, etc. Check the names of other teachers of same student and ask them to document also.

Counseling

It is not your job to “fix” the student. You are not trained for “treatment”. The sooner you get the responsibility off your back and onto the back of the parent, the better chance the child has of getting professional help. As long as you keep the information confidential, you are an “enabler”. Young people doing drugs will lie to you about their parents and homelife and lie to the parents about you. The lies do no stop until about 3 months after they are in treatment. If you choose not to tell the parent there is a problem, you will be responsible for an overdose, etc.

Meeting With Parents

Unless you have proof of drugs the best conversation with parents should be carried on in the following manner: ” I want you to know that we care about you and your family. It is difficult raising a child in today’s society. Most families are having a problem and because we care so much we would like to discuss some things we see with your young man/lady”. Then provide the documentation and ask that they consider having the child evaluated. Parent may be in apathy or denial. It may take a while before they listen. Man single parent families feel helpless in trying to get the child to admit or enter into treatment. Let someone assist with intervention. Refer to ASAP Family Treatment of Chemical Dependency 1-800-FOR-ASAP, where they will receive information on Drug Education and Treatment available. Young counselors will work with youth to get them into treatment.If your school has not set drug policy on how to handle these areas, we urge you to encourage the district to obtain one as soon as possible for direction and protection.

Many times it is best if the meeting with the parent is also held with several teachers and the child so the child cannot lie himself out of the situation at home. Make sure the young person does not feel attacked. Make sure the child feels support, love but everyone must be firm that changes must occur or the consequences will take place.

Parents should be encouraged to get into a support group as quickly as possible so they can learn what “tough love” is and receive support from the group while they are in the tough love stage.

Ex-User Returning to the Classroom

In most cases they will fail (unless someone understands) because they are learning-disabled with comprehension problems, short term memory loss (inability to retain hard facts such as math), low self esteem because of their guilt, problems at home with adjustment and PEER PRESSURE to get back into the scene. REMEMBER that the “perfect straight kid” is not willing to be a friend. THIS CHILD IS LONELY.