Betty Despenza-Green, principal of Chicago Vocational High School in Chicago, describes how teachers can help students learn how to combat drug use by including prevention in their lesson plans and by identifying students who could be at risk of becoming drug users. Excerpted from the video series Pathways to Prevention, videotape #2, The Chicago Vocational and Benito Juarez Stories (Chicago Public Schools and the Midwest Regional Center for Drug-Free Schools and Communities, 1994).
"As I said to my staff, and have said to them repeatedly, the drugs the alcohol, all of that, is a part of everyday living, unfortunately, and since in fact it is, then we must incorporate that into our system. We must incorporate strategies to deal with combating drugs, strategies to help us to understand, or to recognize either a user or a potential user, and once we are able to early identify those symptoms, then we will know what we are dealing with, and we will be able to incorporate strategies into our everyday program, I think that should be a part of your daily curriculum."
This Critical Issue was researched and written by Mary Kleusch, Education Consultant, Student Services, Prevention and Wellness Team, State of Wisconsin, Department of Public Instruction, in conjunction with Ann Freel, Program Assistant, Center for School and Community Development, North Central Regional Educational Laboratory.
Date posted: 1996