Student Assistance Services News
December 2022
Healthy Holidays to all!
Staying Healthy and Safe
Make connections and maintain boundaries - Connections with friends, mentors and family members are an important protective factor, but boundaries with loved ones are just as valuable. Colder weather, family gatherings and a break from extracurriculars mean more time together which can be both fulfilling and challenging. Making clear plans and establishing rules and expectations will help everyone start off on the same page. Focusing on quality time over quantity of time and setting boundaries in relationships can foster smoother interactions and more enjoyment of time spent together.
Practice Gratitude - This is a perfect time of year to practice gratitude for those things that fill our lives. Reflecting on large and small things we are grateful for on a daily basis is a proven mood-booster.
Stay active - Healthy activities might look different during the winter and winter break when routines are disrupted and weather prohibits outdoor activities. Have a variety of relaxing and energizing options available and take advantage of those healthy outlets daily to keep stress and boredom at bay.
Maintain accountability - Accountability at home doesn't need to change to allow someone to enjoy holidays and their free time. Continuing structure and accountability will help your child continue to consider outcomes and make healthier choices. Remember that accountability doesn't just mean imposing consequences for unhealthy choices - it also means reinforcing and encouraging healthy ones!
Written by Fiona Brown, LPC
December is National Impaired Driving Awareness Month
December is a month often marked by family togetherness and celebrations. While alcohol and other substances may not be the main purpose of the get-together, they are often available. According to the national highway safety traffic administration (NHTSA), it’s reported that in 2019 during the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, 210 lives were lost due to alcohol-impaired driving crashes. SAMHSA’s 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health showed over 26 million people ages 16 or older drove under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs during 2020.
Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death and nonfatal injury among U.S. adolescents, resulting in approximately 2,500 deaths and 300,000 nonfatal injuries each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control. While we often think of impaired driving pertaining specifically to alcohol, it can also include marijuana, opioids, or even prescribed or over-the-counter medications.
As we celebrate this holiday season, educate yourself and others on the risks of driving while impaired and take steps to stay safe. There are no shortcuts to “sobering up” and preparing to drive; a person’s coordination and reaction time are slowed long before they actually show signs of intoxication. Coffee does not actually sober you up, and even slowing or stopping drinking an hour or more before planning to drive does necessarily mean that it is safe.
Conversations can occur ahead of time so there aren’t those difficult “in the moment” awkward exchanges. Communicate honestly with your children, friends, family members, and colleagues about expectations of behavior and safe choices when attending holiday events, whether they take place in someone’s home or in public. Encourage guests to use ride sharing companies or designate a sober driver for the evening. With planning, you can eliminate a spontaneous decision to drive.Written by Megan Marshall, LPC
Upcoming Events
In this session presenters will describe the prevalence of teenage sadness and depression and the factors that contribute to these issues. Presenters will detail the difference between common teenage moodiness and depression as a mental illness. Parents will learn strategies to help their teens improve their mood and build lasting resiliency. Available school-based supports as well as the process of seeking mental health care in the community will be discussed.
January 28, 2023 8:30am - 12:30pm @ Lightridge HS - LCPS Annual Mental Health and Wellness Conference
Student Assistance Specialists Fiona Brown, LPC and Hyesun Jeong, LPC will be presenting a session titled Overcoming Barriers to Student Success.
In this 50-minute presentation, Student Assistance Specialists will discuss academic, social and mental health challenges that impact student well-being and place students at-risk for substance use. Parents will learn how to help their students build resiliency and problem-solve in healthy ways.
Student Presentations and Discussion Guide
Below are dates for upcoming secondary school presentations. Use the Discussion Guide below to check in with your student about what they are learning during these presentations:
January 6th and 9th, 8th grade at Harmony MS
January 9th, 6th grade at Stone Hill MS
January 11th and 12th, 8th grade at Stone Hill MS
January 26th and 27th, 8th grade at Harper Park MS
February 9th and 19th, 10th grade at Heritage HS
Education and Support Resources
Mental Health and Wellness Series
Increase Your Knowledge
Safe Storage and Safe Disposal Educational Videos | CADCA
LCPS Parent/Student Substance Use information
LCPS Tobacco and E-Cig Information
Information for Parents and Educators — Science-based information about drug use, health and the developing brain (National Institute on Drug Abuse)
Tobacco and Nicotine education, advocacy and cessation resources
Stanford study on vaping increasing COVID-19 risk
Drug Fact Sheets — Drug-specific information, pill identifiers, social media trends (DEA)
Addiction Policy Forum — Provides educational videos and articles
Start Talking Now — Education and tips for parents on talking to their children about substance use
Support for you as a Loved One
Families Against Narcotics — Resources for families
Partnership to End Addiction — Online Support Community for parents/caregivers
Virginia Al-Anon, Loudoun District — Support for family members of someone struggling with addiction (Zoom meetings)
Find an Al-Anon Meeting — Support for children of parents struggling with addiction, (Zoom meetings)
Al-Anon Family Groups — Find online Alateen meetings
Addiction Policy Forum — Help finding and navigating the treatment experience
Find a Treatment Provider
FindTreatment.gov — Find a treatment center — 1-800-662-HELP (4357) TTY: 1-800-487-4889
Substance Abuse and Mental Heath Services Administration National Helpline
Smart Recovery — Online Recovery Community: Self-Management and Recovery Training
Recovery Dharma — Using Buddhist practices and principles to recover from addiction, virtual meetings available
Narcotics Anonymous — Virtual Narcotics Anonymous meetings
Northern Virginia Intergroup — Virtual Alcoholics Anonymous meetings
LCPS School Based Mental Health Services — LCPS listing of community treatment providers
Student Assistance Specialists (SASs) have expertise in the mental health and substance use field. They have Master’s degrees in Social Work or Counseling, and most are licensed by the Virginia Department of Health Professions as Clinical Social Workers, Professional Counselors or Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioners. As members of the Unified Mental Health Team, Student Assistance Specialists support LCPS initiatives that promote student connectedness, enhance student resilience and educate about mental health and substance use issues. We provide educational presentations for students and parents, restorative practices, individualized and group support, referral services, coordination with providers, staff development and consultation with parents and staff.
To find your school's SAS assignment, visit our website.
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