When school officials found heroin in a student's car, they thought they were dealing with an isolated incident. But in the past four years, six Portage Public School students have died from a heroin overdose as the result of a steadily growing drug network.

"No hard numbers are available, but officials, parents and users estimate up to 30 Portage teenagers have been part of the drug network over the past few years...Some families have found their credit cards stolen and belongings pawned by their children who were in search of money to maintain a heroin habit."

In response, Portage schools have overhauled their drug enforcement program, implementing changes that include monthly visits by drug-sniffing dogs, harsher penalties for possession of drugs, and regular substance abuse information meetings for staff and parents. Source: Kalamazoo Gazette

Labels: heroin, public_schools, trends

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

Information about alcohol use is usually focused on teens and college students, and sometimes on middle school students. But six years ago, John Donovan started gathering information about alcohol use among students in fourth through sixth grades.

"In one national survey, for instance, about 10 percent of fourth-graders and 29 percent of sixth-graders said they'd had more than a sip of alcohol. In a survey in New York State, 21 percent of fifth- and sixth-graders reported having a drink of alcohol at some point, including 7 percent who had drunk liquor, as distinct from beer or wine."

Though conclusions are difficult to draw, Donovan hopes the initial information will move people to dig deeper into alcohol trends among younger students. One thing that is known: a person who starts drinking before the age of 15 is five times more likely to have alcohol-related problems later in life.

Teen alcohol abuse can be prevented. Visit DrugRehabTreatment.com to learn how to help your teenager.

Labels: middle_school, children, trends

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments