Bradley University and the School Counselor's Role with Students At-Risk for Substance Abuse

The School Counselor’s Role with Students at Risk for Substance Abuse

Following the research, substance abuse can seem increasingly inevitable among K-12 students. When compared with usage statistics from a decade ago, data about use among today’s students reveals that students are less aware of the risks of substance abuse, have greater accessibility to those substances, and are more unlikely to be exposed to prevention messaging in their schools.

School counselors play a central role in identifying and preventing substance abuse in their schools.  This begins with understanding and spreading awareness of the warning signs of students with substance abuse issues. While this knowledge can help in direct intervention, spreading awareness of these signs can also foster a stronger culture of prevention within a school.

Counselors can also serve their students as organizers of community involvement. Local authorities, the PTA, and addiction-based non-profit organizations can all contribute to changing students’ views and habits when it comes to using alcohol and drugs — and school counselors are in a unique position to organize these parties’ efforts.

Learn more about substance abuse among K-12 students, along with prevention strategies that school counselors can leverage to make a greater difference in their community, with the infographic below created for Bradley University’s Counseling Program.

The graphic below provides some very important information regarding students and substance abuse. Click the image to view it in its entirety.