By: Dennis Harter
Last week and this week we have had visiting consultants from the Freedom from Chemical Dependency organization meeting with our grades 9 and 11 students. The sessions have been positive discussions on the health risks of alcohol and substance use to the developing teenage brain, possible long term addiction problems tied to early use, social norms and the misconceptions about teenage behavior, and strategies for maintaining healthy choices. We also had a very positive parent discussion sharing the concerns and issues surrounding teenage social pressures, alcohol and other substance use.
The feedback we have received confirms that ISB faces very similar issues to most high schools – our percentages of use and non-use are representative of this age group in general. While we will continue to approach these issues openly and honestly, we also encourage parents to actively engage in discussion with your children about your concerns for their safety and their development. Here is a useful link to an FCD article on recognizing early warning signs of Substance use in Teens.