The temptations are out there
Teens see drugs and alcohol in school, in peer groups, and in the media. This toolkit has advice and resources to help you identify teens who are using them and prevent substance abuse.
Navigate this toolkit
Here are ways to help you stop the cycle before it starts — and show you what to do if it already has.
Did you know …
- 2/3of students have tried alcohol by 12th grade.
- 1/2of students have tried marijuana by 12th grade.
- 1/5of 12th graders have used medications without a prescription.
Deadly fentanyl is now being found in street drugs.
Synthetic fentanyl is 80 to 100 times stronger than morphine and is being found in cocaine, meth, and opioids.
Part 1:Drugs at a glance
See what the most used and available drugs are among youth in Delaware. When you know what you’re up against, it’s easier to take action.
Cocaine
(Blow, bump, coke, line, flake, speedball, crack)
How it’s used:
Snorted, smoked, rubbed on gums, injected
Status:
Illegal
Alcohol
(Booze, brew, liquor, sauce, juice)
How it’s used:
Drunk
Status:
Illegal under 21
Opioids
(Heroin, H, dope, junk, smack, fentanyl, codeine, Oxy, Percs, Vicodin, lean, syrup)
How it’s used:
Injected, smoked, snorted, swallowed, drunk, freebased
Status:
Illegal (heroin); illegal without a prescription (prescription opioids)
Part 2:Drug fact sheets
Below you’ll find a toolkit with info on alcohol and different drugs, how they affect teens, how teens get them, how to talk to teens about using them, and what else you can do to prevent teens from using them.
Keep on hand. Know your stuff. Then talk to them.
Parent and educator guide: drugs and teens (PDF)
Tips for talking with teens about alcohol and drugs (PDF)
Teens and alcohol (PDF)
Teens and opioids (PDF)
Teens and marijuana (PDF)
Teens and prescription drugs (PDF)
Teens and stimulants (PDF)
Teens and methamphetamine (PDF)
Teens and cocaine (PDF)
Protective factors (PDF)
Part 3:Ways for schools to spread the truth
Educator or school administrator? Here, you’ll find social media content, text messages, and announcements about youth substance use that you can send to students or families, parents and guardians.
Part 4:Educators: have a plan
These structured curriculums and other resources provided by various organizations can help you expand your health and prevention efforts.
Botvin LifeSkills Training (LST)
A research-validated substance abuse prevention program proven to reduce the risks of alcohol, tobacco, drug abuse, and violence by targeting the major social and psychological factors that promote the initiation of substance use and other risky behaviors. This comprehensive program provides adolescents and young teens with the confidence and skills necessary to successfully handle challenging situations.
HealthSmart
A comprehensive K-12 health education program designed to meet virtual and classroom needs. Concepts and skills enable students to develop, practice, and support specific healthy behaviors. Schools can teach the comprehensive program or select only the grades and/or subjects they need.
Positive Action
A program based on the intuitive philosophy that we feel good about ourselves when we do positive actions. Every grade level features the same seven units. The scope and sequence enable schools to unify the program message across classrooms and throughout the school. Program training is available and customized for each customer. Training can be completed on-site, with webinars, or both.
Project TND
An effective, interactive classroom-based substance abuse prevention program based on more than two decades of successful research at the University of Southern California. Project TND focuses on three factors that predict tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use; violence-related behaviors; and other problem behaviors among youth, including motivation factors, skills, and decision-making.
FreeProject ALERT
Substance abuse curriculum for grades seven and eight created and tested by the RAND Corporation. Developed over a 10-year period, the program addresses the pro-drug mindset of today’s teens and effectively increases their likelihood of remaining drug-free. A digital version of Project ALERT is available online free of charge.
FreeKidsHealth in the Classroom
Free health-related lesson plans for pre-K through 12th grade educators. Each Teacher’s Guide includes discussion questions, classroom activities and extensions, printable handouts, and quizzes and answer keys all aligned to National Health Education Standards.
Part 5:More ways to learn and help
Here, you will find even more websites and resources to help families, parents, guardians, teachers, and mentors prevent teen drug use.