4 Troubled Teens Blog

Concerns about teens and drugs are prompting a Philadelphia suburb to consider employing drug-sniffing dogs to search local schools. The Hatboro-Horsham school board is contemplating the move, after acknowledging that locker searches havent help stem the tide of drug use among adolescents.

[Curtis] Griffin and [Dennis] Williams proposed that Hatboro-Horsham hire a private company to conduct random dog searches of students lockers, backpacks and cars at least four times per year. Williams said he would provide the company with days that would be off-limits, like PSSA testing days. [Source: The Intelligencer]

The dogs would search for alcohol, illegal drugs, and even gun powder and explosives. Local police would be present during the searches, but only to collect any evidence that might be found. Theres currently no time table to implementing the new searches.

Labels: drugs, schools

Posted By: Aspen/CRC 0 Comments

The 2008 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study (PATS) from the Partnership for a Drug-Free America has been released, and some of the findings are very encouraging. Among the highlights is a dramatic increase in the number of teens who say they have talked to their parents about drugs.

"The study revealed a major increase in the number of teens who reported 'learning a lot' about the risks of drugs from their parents: 37 percent reported this, a 16 percent increase from the previous year. This is the first major increase in this area since the study began 20 years ago."

New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Nicholas Toumpas said this information seems to indicate that parents and teens are finding some common language, and that the conversations are having a real impact. Source: NH Insider

Labels: drugs, risky_behaviors, parents

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

Vigo County, Indiana, has declared 2008 the "Year of the Child." Its focus for the month of August is drug prevention, and several large events have been planned, including a back to school carnival.

"The other large event for the month is a family-based celebration provided by Families by Choice, led by Murial Ryan, called 'Celebrate the Family Table'. There will be food and activities, and the event will take place at Gilbert Park..."

Several studies have found kids in families that eat dinner together are less likely to experiment with drugs and alcohol. Source: Tribune Star (Terre Haute, IN)

Labels: drugs, prevention, influences

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments