Healthy Choices Bulletin

There are several great, free resources that school staff can use when developing substance misuse plans for their schools.

The issue of substance use among students has become increasingly complex and perilous, since fentanyl began prevalent in the illicit drug market. Substance misuse poses significant challenges for students, as well as the families and communities that surround them.

But knowledge is power! Administrators, teachers, and student support staff and families can take action several ways. Here are two booklets that provide effective strategies that schools can use to raise awareness, educate, and keep students safe.

9 Key Strategies for Schools

ENGAGE: Evidence-Based Strategies to Prevent Youth Substance Use

You can also also get involved by joining PPS's Healthy, Substance-Free Youth Coalition. This work is funded by the Drug Free Communities grant that PPS received from the CDC. If you are interested in being a part of this exciting, prevention focused work, please complete this short form. Our next meeting will be in early November.

• Insight resumed on Wednesday 10-1-25 at 6:30

• Insight is the district's primary response to Level A substance use violations. It is a psychoeducational and interactive format for students and a caring adult to review and learn new information and strategies.

• We send the Welcome email to the referring administrator, school counselor or social worker, parent/guardian and student's PPS email.
• Insight is taught synchronously (live in real time) and virtually. Insight moved to a virtual format following the pandemic. Offering Insight virtually addresses equity issues around access for families who do not have their own personal transportation.
• School staff will receive attendance information on Fridays.
• Insight is always taught bilingually in Spanish and English. Other languages available upon request.

The referral process is the same.

1. Complete Level A meeting with student and parent or guardian.
2. Complete Insight referral form, located on the Student Success & Health webpage.
3. Give family a printed copy of the Insight brochure.
4. Student Success & Health then sends a welcome email with the link to the class and instructions.

Families are always welcome to join voluntarily 😊. To help families with this either complete the Insight referral form and indicate that it is non-disciplinary or contact Student Success & Health for assistance.

Email: studentsevices@pps.net
Website: https://www.pps.net/Page/18185

As marijuana becomes more widely legalized and culturally accepted across the United States, it’s increasingly important to understand how cannabis use — especially among teenagers — affects the developing brain.

While some adults may use marijuana without long-term consequences, the adolescent brain is far more vulnerable to its effects. Scientific research consistently shows that marijuana use during adolescence can interfere with critical brain development processes, leading to lasting consequences for memory, learning, mental health, and overall cognitive function.

Things to keep in mind;

• The teenage brain is a work in progress
• Understanding marijuana and different levels of potency
• Prevention and education are critical

ODE Mental Health & Well-Being Office Hours The mental health and well-being team at ODE is offering an opportunity to connect with staff members about topics impacting student and staff mental health and well-being Please register here.

We convene the 1st Tuesday of the month from 3:45-4:45pm PST.

• Substance use prevention and intervention
• Transformative Social and Emotional Learning (TSEL)
• Suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention
• School violence prevention
• Trauma informed practices
• Restorative practices
• Mental health literacy
• School Counseling Programs
• Staff Well-being

October is Substance Use Prevention Month. Schools across Oregon engage in essential prevention work every day through comprehensive health education, supportive and inclusive classroom environments, communication with families, and so much more. To strengthen these efforts, new substance use prevention and intervention resources are available on the ODE Substance Use Prevention and Intervention webpage. These resources include new K-12 substance use prevention lessons and a Communications Toolkit that schools can use to share important prevention messaging with students, staff and families. For questions and support, please contact the Substance Use Prevention Education Coordinator at ode.substance-prevention@ode.oregon.gov Oregon Department of Education : Substance Use Prevention and Intervention : Health : State of Oregon Substance Use Prevention and Intervention.

ODE is offering a School Mental Health Professional Learning Community in partnership with the National Center for School Mental Health, the six month PLC offers participants resources, skills and tools to advance school mental health efforts through quality improvement strategies. Please read more and register here

This fall, Newport Healthcare is offering a FREE training series that will sort through the baggage around anxiety diagnoses and treatment by demystifying the types, symptoms, and treatment options.

All trainings include CEU's, as well as additional resources such as flyers, articles and booklets. Register using this link.

PAVE - Parents Against Vaping is offering a free webinar - Dangers of Youth Vaping: What Parents Need to Know, on Thursday, October 9 ay 3:00pm. By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

• Recognize and understand tobacco industry tactics targeting youth
• Explain the dangers of nicotine e-cigarettes/vapes, non-nicotine vapes, nicotine pouches, and other emerging tobacco products
• Identify steps to protect youth and advise others on how to get involved
• Take action in their own communities

Make sure to register for our FREE event on October 9 using the button below. This event is open to all– parents, adults who work with youth, and other community members. A recording will be available to all registrants after the webinar. Registration link.