Counselor's Area

Welcome to the counselor section of our site. Here we want to aid counselors in further understanding the process of evaluation and referral with our agency. Of course, if you have any questions, you can always call our main office and speak to one of our Case Managers at (503)639-9096 or (503)670-1656.

 

Referral process: For a client to access services at our agency, the process begins with an evaluation. Scheduling an evaluation requires the client, or parent to contact our main office and ask to schedule an evaluation appointment. Following the evaluation, we will notify your office of our recommendation within 24 hours.

 

Signs and symptoms to consider when identifying an at risk student include but are not limited to the following:

 

      * Sudden changes in personality without another known cause

 

      * Loss of interest in once favorite hobbies, sports, or other activities

 

      * Sudden decline in performance or attendance at school or work

 

      * Changes in friends and reluctance to talk about new friends

 

      * Deterioration of personal grooming habits

 

      * Difficulty in paying attention, forgetfulness

 

      * Sudden aggressive behavior, irritability, nervousness, or giddiness

 

      * Increased secretiveness, heightened sensitivity to inquiry

 

When an identified youth is in need of a referral, often, there can be difficulty locating appropriate resources. Here are some suggestions that you may find useful.

 

Your school district's nursing staff, psychologist, social worker, or substance abuse coordinator or counselor may be able to identify local treatment programs. Other possible sources of referral information include your doctor, local hospital, pastor or clergy, and county mental health society. Most school districts have an already established list of treatment providers in the area.

 

Public and private agencies, such as local health departments, state alcohol and drug authorities, and state and local professional societies may compile directories that can help you locate treatment programs. These directories may offer information on the types of facility settings and care provided as well as special services for adolescents.

 

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) publishes the National Directory of Drug Abuse and Alcoholism Treatment Programs, which lists Federal, state, local, and private facilities that provide treatment services. The directory can be ordered from SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse on Alcohol and Drug Information at 800-729-6686 and is available online with search and browse capabilities at SAMHSA's Web site (www.samhsa.gov).

 

SAMHSA's Center for Substance Abuse Treatment supports a National Helpline at 800-662-HELP (800-662-4357). Through this toll-free, confidential service, trained specialists provide information on substance abuse and available treatment options. They also provide referrals nationwide to treatment programs, self-help and family support groups, and crisis centers

 

An interesting research study confirms what we already understand about the negative impact of drug use on school performance. This article, from Join Together, summarizes these findings:

 

Substance Use Affects School Performance
9/21/2000

 

A new study says that even low levels of alcohol and other drug use negatively affect school performance.

 

The study, "The Impact of Peer Substance Use on Middle School Performance in Washington State," conducted by the University of Washington's (UW) Washington Kids Count, found that low levels of peer alcohol and other drug use was linked to lower individual test scores for middle-school students. Students whose peers had little or no involvement with drinking and illicit drugs scored on average 18 points higher on the state reading test, and 45 points higher on math, than students whose peers had low levels of drinking or illicit drug use.

 

Researchers looked at the effects of substance use on school performance along with the factors that indicate a higher level of alcohol and other drug use in schools. Experts examined test scores for 10,000 Washington students in 57 schools, linking responses to the state's Adolescent Health Survey to individual Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) test score results.

 

The study also examined the mixture of family, community and individual factors that could indicate whether the students in a school would have a greater level of substance use. They found that the most influential factors were whether students start anti-social behavior at an early age and whether the attitudes of their fellow students condone or condemn this behavior.

 

"This report confirms what every student, parent, and educator should already know: that kids whose peers use drugs and alcohol do worse in school," said Washington Governor Gary Locke in a press release. "Decisions about drugs or drinking, even as early as middle school, can make a difference between academic success and failure ... All of us -- policymakers, educators, parents and citizens -- must focus on early risk indicators as we work to assure a better future for our children."

 

Dr. Richard Brandon, director of the U.W.'s Washington Kids Count project, said the findings show that peer drinking and drug use critically affect whether students will meet new state education standards, and will help policymakers target schools that are most likely to have a high level of substance use.

 

"Since this study focused on middle schools with students 12-14 years of age, finding this large an impact is dramatic," said Brandon. "We expect the effect to be even greater in high schools, where drinking and drug use are heavier, and affect many more students."

 

A follow-up study of high school students is planned in the next few months.

 

A copy of The Impact of Substance Use on Middle School Performance in Washington State report is available online or by calling Washington Kids Count at 206-685-7613.

 

 

 

 

 

Some of the recent information about use trends and addictive nature of marijuana are summarized well by an organization called œabout.com.

 

Long-term marijuana use can lead to addiction for some people; that is, they use the drug compulsively even though it often interferes with family, school, work, and recreational activities. According to the 2001 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, an estimated 5.6 million Americans age 12 or older reported problems with illicit drug use in the past year. Of these, 3.6 million met diagnostic criteria for dependence on an illicit drug. More than 2 million met diagnostic criteria for dependence on marijuana/hashish. In 1999, more than 220,000 people entering drug abuse treatment programs reported that marijuana was their primary drug of abuse.

 

Along with craving, withdrawal symptoms can make it hard for long-term marijuana smokers to stop using the drug. People trying to quit report irritability, difficulty sleeping, and anxiety.59,60 They also display increased aggression on psychological tests, peaking approximately 1 week after they last used the drug.

 

Q: How many people smoke marijuana? At what age do children generally start?

 

A: A recent government survey tells us:

 

ï‚· Marijuana is the most frequently used illegal drug in the United States. Over 83 million Americans over the age of 12 have tried marijuana at least once.

 

ï‚· Over 12 million had used the drug in the month before the survey.

 

The Monitoring the Future Survey, which is conducted yearly, includes students from 8th, 10th, and 12th grades. In 2001, the survey showed that 20 percent of 8th-graders have tried marijuana at least once, and by 10th grade, 20 percent are œcurrent users (that is, used within the past month). Among 12th-graders, nearly 50 percent have tried marijuana/hash at least once, and about 22 percent were current users.

 

Other researchers have found that use of marijuana and other drugs usually peaks in the late teens and early twenties, then declines in later years

 

Q: Why do young people use marijuana?

 

A: Children and young teens start using marijuana for many reasons. Curiosity and the desire to fit into a social group are common reasons. Certainly, youngsters who have already begun to smoke cigarettes and/or use alcohol are at high risk for marijuana use.

 

Also, our research suggests that the use of alcohol and drugs by other family members plays a strong role in whether children start using drugs. Parents, grandparents, and older brothers and sisters in the home are models for children to follow.

 

Some young people who take drugs do not get along with their parents. Some have a network of friends who use drugs and urge them to do the same (peer pressure). All aspects of a child's environment - home, school, neighborhood - help to determine whether the child will try drugs.

 

Children who become more heavily involved with marijuana can become dependent, and that is their prime reason for using the drug. Others mention psychological coping as a reason for their use - to deal with anxiety, anger, depression, boredom, and so forth. But marijuana use is not an effective method for coping with life's problems, and staying high can be a way of simply not dealing with the problems and challenges of growing up.

 

Researchers have found that children and teens (both male and female) who are physically and sexually abused are at greater risk than other young people of using marijuana and other drugs and of beginning drug use at an early age

 

Q: Does using marijuana lead to other drugs?

 

A: Long-term studies of high school students and their patterns of drug use show that very few young people use other drugs without first trying marijuana, alcohol, or tobacco. Though few young people use cocaine, for example, the risk of doing so is much greater for youth who have tried marijuana than for those who have never tried it. While research has not fully explained this association, growing evidence suggests a combination of biological, social, and psychological factors are involved.

 

Researchers are examining the possibility that long-term marijuana use may create changes in the brain that make a person more at risk of becoming addicted to other drugs, such as alcohol or cocaine. While many young people who use marijuana do not go on to use other drugs, further research is needed to determine who will be at greatest risk.

 

Q: What is "tolerance" for marijuana?

 

A: "Tolerance" means that the user needs increasingly larger doses of the drug to get the same desired results that he or she previously got from smaller amounts. Some frequent, heavy users of marijuana may develop tolerance for it.

 

Q: How can I prevent my child from getting involved with marijuana?

 

A: There is no magic bullet for preventing teenage drug use. But parents can be influential by talking to their children about the dangers of using marijuana and other drugs, and remain actively engaged in their children's lives. Even after teenage children enter high school, parents can stay involved in schoolwork, recreation, and social activities with their children's friends. Research shows that appropriate parental monitoring can reduce future drug use, even among those adolescents who may be prone to marijuana use, such as those who are rebellious, cannot control their emotions, and experience internal distress. To address the issue of drug abuse in your area, it is important to get involved in drug abuse prevention programs in your community or your child's school. Find out what prevention programs you and your children can participate in together.

 

Facts About Marijuana:

 

ï‚· There are stronger forms of marijuana available to adolescents today than in the 1960's. Stronger marijuana means stronger effects.

 

ï‚· Research shows that nearly 50 percent of teenagers try marijuana before they graduate from high school.

 

ï‚· Marijuana has adverse effects on many of the skills for driving a car. Driving while high can lead to car accidents.

 

ï‚· Marijuana users may have many of the same respiratory problems that tobacco smokers have, such as chronic bronchitis and inflamed sinuses.

 

ï‚· Marijuana smoking affects the brain and leads to impaired short-term memory, perception, judgment and motor skills.

 

This information from About.com was used with permission from the Editor.

 

Of importance in our schools is the presentation of a consistent no tolerance message and the utilization of school policies and procedures in addressing the ongoing problems of teen drug use.