High school teacher aims to curb teen drug use

By Staff Writer

The Office of National Drug Control Policy reports that mental health problems, including depression, developmental lags, apathy, withdrawal and other psychosocial dysfunctions, are frequently linked to substance abuse among adolescents.

In an effort to prevent teen drug use, officials from Ellensburg High School in Washington State are hosting a parent and community night, the Daily Record reports. The effort cannot come soon enough, as last month, the school reported that it had five recent incidents of student drug use on campus, two of which involved heroin.

Samantha Nelson, a teacher at the school and member of a Drug Task Force committee, is helping to organize the community night event. She told the news source that good kids are making potentially life-ruining bad choices. She added that it may start with experimentation into alcohol and marijuana, but can lead to use of hard drugs like cocaine and heroin.

Nelson also said that she sees the problem span across different demographic and social groups, including athletes, musicians and academics.

In addition to the community meeting, the school is launching a Safe Homes communication network among parents and a tip line for local residents to anonymously report drug use.