School hires professional help to reduce number of drug and bullying incidences

Drug use and bullying are two major issues facing school systems today. As a result, learning institution are using state and federal grant money to hire counselors to help troubled teens.

For instance, Sunnyside Middle School in Lafayette, Indiana recently federal funding money to pay for a new counselor tasked with reducing crime, The Journal Courier.

Officials told the news source that the new counselor is teaching students to make good decisions when faced with alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Furthermore, he aims to help children avoid bullying and handle situations in which they are harassed.

The ultimate goal of the position is to reduce the number of in-school and out-of-school suspensions as well as the numbers of students who are referred to juvenile authorities. However, for some troubled teens, boarding school may be a better option to help them overcome drug and alcohol abuse.

According to the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 22 million Americans age 12 and older used illicit drugs in the month prior to the survey.