Hello!  The SAP office provides a full range of support to help all students learn skills for communication, decision making, stress management, and problem-solving to navigate challenges so they are best able to learn, in addition to substance use prevention and early intervention services using evidence-guided best practices.

October is National Substance Use Prevention Month AND Red Ribbon Week! The Red Ribbon Campaign® is the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the nation. Red Ribbon Week, which is celebrated annually during the fourth week of October, is a continuing tradition of displaying Red Ribbons as a symbol to keep children, families, and communities safe, healthy, and drug-free.  SAP and YLTA handed out crowd-favorite freebies like bracelets, pens, pencils, and of course festive candy! Students were reminded of the Red Ribbon Week message of “Celebrate Life. Live Drug-Free” and invited to participate in a trivia contest on what they thought they knew about the substance use and mental health habits of their peers. 

The focus of November is on smoking cessation. Quitting is a good thing! We celebrated the Great American Smokeout on November 17th with a table and week-long activities. If you have a student who is smoking cigarettes or e-cigarettes and would like to quit, and you want more information on how to support them, there are great resources available on this website! YLTA students created a series of flyers, including the one above, to share information with their peers.

December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month and bulletin boards and daily announcements focused on making low-risk choices. Nationally, approximately one-third of all fatal collisions involve drivers with a blood alcohol level (BAL) at or above the legal 0.08 level. Drivers who are impaired after ingesting other drugs such as opioids, marijuana, and some over-the-counter medications are also statistically more likely to be involved in crashes.  SAP and YLTA ran a lunch table during which students were invited to "spin the wheel" and answer student-generated questions about impaired driving and low-risk choices. Car stickers and candy canes were enjoyed by all!

January is a great time to make a change! Our students are entering their second semester of school, so January is a natural transition time. On average, studies show that it takes 66 days (approximately 2 months) to form a habit and have it be automatic. The start of a new year can be a great time to support your student in forming new habits, including increasing academic/executive functioning skills or decreasing drug and alcohol use. 

Students were invited during lunches to color a new "Welcome" sign for our front lobby as an enjoyable "pick me up" with sweet treats! Working together, our student body created a way to change up our walls for the better!

This month all Middle and High School students received a lesson from the "Signs of Suicide" (SOS) program. Topics included the difference between sadness and depression, warning signs for suicide, and a review of coping strategies. Students learned to ACT (Acknowledge that they have noticed a friend is struggling, show Care, and Tell a trusted adult their concerns) in order to support themselves and their peers.

Teachers and staff were also trained to ACT during the staff development afternoon. 

March is a busy prevention month! Students in grades 9-12 completed the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). Conducted every 2 years in school districts throughout the state of New Hampshire, the YRBS is part of a nationwide effort to learn more about the health-related behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of death and poor health among youth and adults. Students provided anonymous information on their choices and habits which will help the district and state lawmakers learn how best to support them through financial and staffing resources.  

High School students also participated in the "Save a Life Tour," an interactive distracted driving simulation. Students were able to experience how driving impaired and driving while texting negatively impacts their ability to stay safe on the road. Littleton Police Department was also on hand to answer student questions!