Oak Ridge High School Student Assistance Program

“Students Who are Hungry, Sick, Troubled, or Depressed Cannot Function Well in the Classroom, No matter How Good the School.” Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development

Student Assistance Programs… Identify and help students whose learning is being impacted by:  Emotional Issues  Family issues  Personal lifestyle choices

How are Emotional Issues affecting our Students?  Tennessee leads the nation with the highest rate of people age 18 and older who experienced a major depressive episode in the past year. (SAMSHA, 2007)  Approximately 10 % of teens between ages have experienced major depressive episode in the past year. (SAMSHA)  Suicide 3 rd leading cause of death in ages in 2004.

Self Harm Survey 2009  15-22% of all teens had participated in self harm  Root emotions: Shame, depression, emotional “numbness”  Issues: Seeking perfection, self loathing, pressures to succeed

How are Lifestyle Choices Affecting Students?  Use of alcohol and other drugs  Use of alcohol and other drugs by significant others/adults in students’ lives

WHY DO STUDENTS USE???

Non-Users Say: Users Say: Non-Users Say: Users Say: Peer pressure To feel good To escape To experiment To experiment Peer pressure To feel good To escape

How are A&D Issues Affecting our Students?  In the age group of 12 and older, Tennessee ranks in the upper 20% of states for past year’s use of cocaine/illicit drugs other than marijuana.  In the age groups of 12-17, 18-25, and 26 or older, Tennessee is in the upper 20% of states in non-medical use of prescription pain relievers.  TN is in the lower 20% of states among underage use of alcohol (12-20 years old.)

National Findings Relating to Family Use of Alcohol/Other Drugs  12 percent of children under age 18 live with a parent who abuses or is dependent on alcohol or illicit drugs.  Translates to 8.3 million American children living in homes where drug or alcohol abuse is prevalent.

Other National Findings:  7.3 million children lived with an alcohol- dependent or alcohol-abusive parent;  Around 2.1 million children lived with a drug-dependent or drug-abusive parent;  Substance dependence or abuse involved 14 percent of children aged 5 or younger.

40% of Students Live with Serious Alcohol and Other Drug Issues  5% Chemically Dependent  15%Serious Abusers  20% Family Abuse

How does that translate to Oak Ridge High School  1500 Students….. 5% = 75 students, chemical dependence 5% = 75 students, chemical dependence 15% = 225 students, serious abuse 15% = 225 students, serious abuse 20% = 300 students, family abuse 20% = 300 students, family abuse Total = 600 students possibly affected by substance abuse