Results of both the Carbon County drug and alcohol survey and the Pennsylvania Youth Survey prove that substance use is beginning at a younger age.

Schools are taking this information and using it to combat this growing epidemic.Carbon Career & Technical InstituteAt Carbon Career & Technical Institute in Jim Thorpe, which includes high school students from all five school districts in Carbon County, David Reinbold, administrative director, said that the results "confirm that there is a drug and alcohol problem in Carbon County."He said the school has a number of programs and initiatives in place that focus on promoting healthy lifestyles and smart choices, including the Student Assistance Program and Transition Team, which identify barriers to school success, such as substance abuse, and help the students overcome those barriers through counseling, interventions, parent involvement or further referral to outside agencies; and Students Against Destructive Decisions, which is a peer-to-peer education, prevention and activism organization dedicated to preventing destructive decisions.The school also partners with Carbon-Monroe-Pike Drug and Alcohol Commission to bring in on-site counseling services once a week throughout the school year.Jim ThorpeJim Thorpe Area School District superintendent Brian J. Gasper said the district is concerned with the results from the survey."As you can see by the results, there are many areas that Carbon County sixth- and eighth-graders rank above the state averages," he said. "As a former middle school teacher, I have a full understanding of the dynamics of middle school students. These are potentially very difficult years for students and the results clearly show that we should focus on this cohort of students."Gasper said that programs are in place in all schools. In both elementary and middle schools there are schoolwide positive behavior support programs. The Penn-Kidder Campus has even been recognized for fidelity of the program by the state and L.B. Morris is on track to also be recognized this year with a similar award.He said Jim Thorpe incorporates a LifeSkills class into the seventh grade curriculum. The course addresses many of the issues that middle school students encounter at that age.At the high school level, staff is implementing the second year of the Olweus Bullying program, which focuses on stopping peer pressure and bullying."It is evident that the more time our students are ingrained in our school programming and community, the more likely they are to make positive choices," Gasper said.LehightonTim Tkach, coordinator of curriculum, instruction and grants at Lehighton Area School District, said that the school uses the PAYS results to see where education is necessary.Currently, Lehighton has been focusing educational programs to elementary and lower middle school grades because of the survey results.Lehighton contracts with Wyoming Drug and Alcohol for services, which include education awareness for alcohol, tobacco and other drugs; peer awareness and peer pressure; as well as curriculums on substance abuse, addiction, culture and media and technology.In addition, the school district also partners with county and state agencies to host community drug awareness events for parents to educate themselves about this problem."We are trying to be proactive instead of reactive," Tkach said. "We are hoping that if more education is given to the students, and they see what happens then it will make them realize that when you say no, they are not alone. We want them to be able to stand strong and know they don't have to bow to peer pressure."Since the school district began actively educating students, parents and the Lehighton community, Tkach said that the school has seen a decline in the number of students trying drugs, cigarettes and alcohol.PalmertonAt Palmerton Area School District, Scot Engler, superintendent of schools, said the survey information is shared with the school psychologists and staff to help use it in the best way possible."We are always looking for ways to enhance our offerings and get kids to stay away from drugs, alcohol and tobacco," he said. "We use all the input we get on these issues."Like the other school districts in the county, Palmerton has a number of programs to help students. They include behavioral support; assistance programs; guidance counselors in every buildings; two school psychologists and contracting with an outside agency to provide counseling two days a week.In addition, Engler said that administration is trained on a variety of issues. Most recently, he attended a presentation on the impacts of heroin in the Lehigh Valley at DeSales University."We give the people (teachers) on the front lines everything we can to combat the issues of drug and alcohol in our schools," he said.WeatherlyAt Weatherly Area School District, Thomas McLaughlin, superintendent of schools, said that the survey results were reviewed by school administrators and members of the Student Assistance Program.He said the team found it interesting that the highest number of students beginning to experiment with drugs or alcohol was in middle school. Because of this the school targets middle school ages for its education prevention programs.McLaughlin said that the school is using the results of the Carbon County survey in its October/November flyer, which is posted in all middle and high school bathroom stalls. The flyer highlights the percentage of students who do not use alcohol, tobacco and other drugs and the reasons for not using.In addition to posting positive results, the school created a drug/alcohol/ tobacco action plan, which covers programs and activities like Teens Against Tobacco Use; Pathways to Recovery Weekly "group" counseling sessions and one-on-one sessions; mental health assessments by certified mental health counselors; the Student Assistance Program; Red Ribbon Week; the Camfel Production multimedia presentation on positive choices; a biannual Wellness Fair; Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office programs; the Great American Smoke Out, World No Tobacco Day and Kick Butt's Day, which focus on smoking; and driver safety programs on safe driving practices.Panther ValleyDennis Kergick, superintendent of Panther Valley School District, said the results help to determine the school's needs."The Panther Valley School District always attempts to take proactive measures in an effort to meet the many, divergent needs of our students and families," he said. "The use of this data definitely provides substantial information in relationship to the issues of 'growing up' in 21st century United States."Anti-drug and alcohol messages need to be reinforced both at home and in our schools," he added. "We are all in this together and school and community are key partners in making headway in such situations."Last year, Panther Valley received a three-year LifeSkills grant through the University of Colorado at Boulder, to create programs that focus on grades six and seven.So far, the school has been using the Botvin LifeSkills Training program to promote healthy alternatives to risky behavior by teaching students how to resist peer pressures; develop greater self-esteem; learn how to cope with anxiety and illustrate consequences for substance abuse.The nationally recognized DARE program was also reinstated in the elementary school; and the district has adopted a positive behavior support plan that instills an appreciation in others."People tend to believe that many of these concerns are solely based in urban and suburban school districts and communities," Kergick said."The national epidemic of alcohol and drug abuse has also impacted our rural schools and communities and we recognize the need to find systems of support for our students. Our main priority in schools is to provide a safe and nurturing environment."