Student Assistance Services News

National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week, an initiative from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, is a reminder of the importance of raising awareness of substance use as a teen health issue. The NDAFW page hosts a variety of resources parents may find valuable, such as 10 Questions Teens Ask about Drugs and Health. Teens can also benefit from a variety of brief, informative videos in the multimedia section of the Parents & Educators page answering commonly asked questions, like "What is addiction?" and "Can using drugs help me deal with anxiety and depression?" Check out the Quick Facts below along with NIDA's DrugFacts pages.

To celebrate National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week, Read This and Call Me in the Morning: a prescription for teen substance use prevention *with cartoons* will be available for free download March 21st-25th. This handbook gives parents essential information and strategies for understanding, preventing and responding to warning signs of teen substance use. Download your free copy March 21st - 25th!

In response to the growing concerns about the dangers of fentanyl in our community, LCPS will host its 7th Opioid and Fentanyl Awareness Session. Along with LCPS staff, The Williams Center for Wellness and Recovery, the Loudoun County Department of Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Development Services, the Prevention Alliance of Loudoun, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office and the Leesburg Police Department will share information and guidance. Register here.

April 13th 6- 8 pm, Harper Park Middle School library, 6-8th grade PEP presentation for EL parents

Substance Use Prevention Presentations are continuing across the county in the secondary schools. See upcoming presentation dates below. Use the Discussion Guide below to check in with your student about what they are learning during these presentations:

April 24th, 7th grade at Stone Hill MS

LCPS Parent Resource Services continues with its Mental Health and Wellness Parent Series. This series will highlight mental health and wellness issues and offer parents and educators strategies for addressing them. See LCPS’ Parent Resource Services website for the full schedule.

These resources are not maintained or endorsed by Loudoun County Public Schools. LCPS is providing them as a helpful resource but is not responsible for their content.

Safe Storage and Safe Disposal Educational Videos | CADCA

LCPS Parent/Student Substance Use information

LCPS Alcohol Information

LCPS Drug Information

LCPS Tobacco and E-Cig Information

Information for Parents and Educators — Science-based information about drug use, health and the developing brain (National Institute on Drug Abuse)

REVIVE naloxone training - Free training to administer naloxone in the event of opioid overdose

Tobacco and Nicotine education, advocacy and cessation resources

COVID-19 & Substance Use

Stanford study on vaping increasing COVID-19 risk

Drug Fact Sheets — Drug-specific information, pill identifiers, social media trends (DEA)

Get Smart About Drugs - Drug prevention website from the DEA with resources for parents

Addiction Policy Forum — Provides educational videos and articles

Start Talking Now — Education and tips for parents on talking to their children about substance use

Families Against Narcotics — Resources for families

Partnership to End Addiction — Online Support Community for parents/caregivers

Virginia Al-Anon, Loudoun District — Support for family members of someone struggling with addiction (Zoom meetings)

Find an Al-Anon Meeting — Support for children of parents struggling with addiction, (Zoom meetings)

Al-Anon Family Groups — Find online Alateen meetings

Addiction Policy Forum — Help finding and navigating the treatment experience

FindTreatment.gov — Find a treatment center — 1-800-662-HELP (4357) TTY: 1-800-487-4889

Substance Abuse and Mental Heath Services Administration National Helpline

Smart Recovery — Online Recovery Community: Self-Management and Recovery Training

Recovery Dharma — Using Buddhist practices and principles to recover from addiction, virtual meetings available

Narcotics Anonymous — Virtual Narcotics Anonymous meetings

Northern Virginia Intergroup — Virtual Alcoholics Anonymous meetings

LCPS School Based Mental Health Services — LCPS listing of community treatment providers

Student Assistance Specialists (SASs) have expertise in the mental health and substance use field. They have Master’s degrees in Social Work or Counseling, and most are licensed by the Virginia Department of Health Professions as Clinical Social Workers, Professional Counselors or Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioners. As members of the Unified Mental Health Team, Student Assistance Specialists support LCPS initiatives that promote student connectedness, enhance student resilience and educate about mental health and substance use issues. We provide educational presentations for students and parents, restorative practices, individualized and group support, referral services, coordination with providers, staff development and consultation with parents and staff.

To find your school's SAS assignment, visit our website.

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