Schools

Studies show that from 8 to 10 percent of high school students misuse stimulants to cope with stressful academics. Schools can undertake a wide range of activities to deter prescription drug misuse, including teaching students stress management and coping skills and creating and enforcing school policies on non-medical drug use.

Assess student prescription drug abuse and misuse to determine the extent of the problem.

The 12th (2007-2008) Biennial California Student Survey (CSS)^vii was completed by 13,930 students in grades 7, 9, and 11 from 115 public middle and high schools. The current CSS survey combines for the first time alcohol, illicit drugs, diverted prescription drugs and cold/cough medicines used to get high.

The California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS) is a comprehensive and customizable youth self-report data collection system that can provide you with essential and reliable health risk assessment and resiliency information. Although targeted at grades 5-12, the CHKS enables the collection and analysis of valuable data regarding local youth health risks, assets, and behaviors. The survey is a powerful tool that can be adjusted to survey college or university students. It is designed to be part of a comprehensive, data-driven decision-making process to help guide the development of more effective health, prevention, and youth development programs.

Go to the California Healthy Kids Survey for more information and how you can use it.

Easy Access

• At home-Over the years, teens have indicated that cigarettes and marijuana are easiest to buy, followed by beer and then prescription drugs. In 2008, more teens reported that prescription drugs were easier to buy than beer.^viii Most youth (70%) obtain prescription drug painkiller medication through stealing from their parents or other relative.
• Internet Pharmacies-In 2008, CASA identified a total of 365 internet sites, including 206 advertising sites and 159 sites offering these drugs for sale. Only two of the selling sites were certified by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy as legitimate Internet pharmacy practice sites; the other 157 were rogue sites. Collegiate students have the technology and ability to seek these distributors of prescription drugs.^ix
• Doctor Shopping-In addition, obtaining prescription drugs from medical professionals by lying about symptoms and frequently switching physicians may be an easy way to get the drugs, especially for out-of-state college students.

Integrate prevention curricula into school services

There exist many science-based prevention programs; the key is to find the one that best fits your youth and student body population and the issues they face. To help decide which program is the best fit for your school, you may want to turn to a Model Program database. The Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), in particular, has rated more programs than other agencies and uses a broader and more scientifically rigorous framework in evaluation, employing a wider variety of criteria. CSAP's National Registry of Effective Prevention Programs (NREPP) includes not only CSAP-sponsored programs and those not rated elsewhere, but also programs already rated by other agencies. The mission of NREPP is to identify, review, and disseminate effective prevention programs; it also provides a platform for experts to review and evaluate programs using the scientific method.

For more information on Model Programs, see the following link:
http://modelprograms.samhsa.gov/template_cf.cfm?page=model_list

Educate parents about access to prescription drugs and effective measures to reduce it.

In addition to educating students, schools should provide parents with tips for preventing prescription drug misuse. Through flyers, newsletters and online training, administrators should offer information on how to recognize symptoms of prescription drug misuse. Schools can also educate parents about community factors that influence their young adults' access to prescription drugs. In addition, schools can provide parents with tips for preventing access to prescription in their homes or relative's homes, such as monitoring it or storing it in locked cabinets.

Bring in local police to educate parents and relatives about supplying prescription drugs to their children.

Parents should not only be educated in terms of prescription drug misuse among their children, but also any legal repercussions that may result if they supply drugs to their children.

Encourage staff to use screening tools and brief intervention

• Administrators can establish a strategy to combat prescription drug abuse and misuse by providing screening tools and intervention tactics.
• Create a system for routine screenings for students at your school's health care center and work with local hospitals to mandate screening for alcohol and drugs a routine of every emergency room visit.
• Educate faculty and staff about the signals and symptoms of prescription drug abuse and misuse and how to respond.