1 www.underagedrinking.samhsa.gov

What Educators Can Do to Help 

Prevent Underage Drinking and Other 

Drug Use

School staff members can play a powerful 

role in the prevention of underage drinking 

and drug use among their students. Together, 

educators and families can work to send 

strong and consistent messages to students 

about the use of alcohol and other drugs.

Teachers and school staff members work 

hard every day to prepare students for 

future success. Alcohol and drugs, such 

as marijuana or opioids, can undermine 

a child’s academic success and other life 

goals. Additionally, substance misuse and 

substance use disorders are associated 

with a variety of negative consequences, 

including deteriorating relationships, poor 

school performance, loss of employment, 

diminished mental health, and increases in 

sickness and death.1

Here are steps you can take to help your 

students avoid underage drinking and 

substance use.

1 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General. (November 2016). Facing Addiction in America: The 

Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health. Washington, DC.

Recognize the Signs

Educators can identify students 

who may be at risk for alcohol 

and drug use, and work with 

families to prevent these 

children from going down a harmful path. 

The following signs may signal problems 

with the use of alcohol and other drugs. 

Experts say that a substance use problem 

is more likely if you notice several of 

these signs at the same time, if they occur 

suddenly, or if some of them are extreme 

in nature. 

• Mood changes (e.g., flare-ups of temper, 

irritability, defensiveness)

• Poor class attendance, low grades, and/

or behavior problems

• Disregard for school rules
2 www.underagedrinking.samhsa.gov

• Memory lapses, poor concentration, 

bloodshot eyes, lack of coordination, or 

slurred speech

• Switching friends and a reluctance to 

allow parents to meet new friends

Talk With Students

There are several things 

a teacher or school staff 

member can do if they 

suspect a student is using 

alcohol or other drugs, but the first step 

is always to talk to the student. Use the 

following tips to talk to students about 

alcohol and other drug use.

• Be a Good Source of Information—

Provide students with the facts about 

the harmful effects of underage 

drinking and drug use. Being open and 

honest about the dangers of alcohol, 

marijuana, and opioids can help 

students make safer decisions. 

• Show Them You Care—Let students 

know that you care about their health, 

wellness, and success and tell them how 

alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs can 

impede those things.

• Use Personal Stories—Statistics are 

useful, but they are sometimes hard to 

understand. Consider telling students 

relatable stories about making smart 

decisions when it comes to alcohol and 

other drugs. These could be stories that 

show the consequences of engaging in 

risky behavior. 

• Help Them Build an Exit Plan—Some 

students may not have an interest in 

alcohol or other drugs, but will still feel 

like they need to partake in order to fit 

in. Explain that it’s okay to say no, and 

help them think through an exit strategy 

in case a friend or family member tries 

to pressure them in the future. 
3

Use the Campaign

In 2017, more than one in four students 

aged 12 to 17 who were enrolled in school 

in the past year reported not having seen 

or heard drug or alcohol use prevention 

messages at school.2

 Educators have the 

power to change this. Make sure your 

students are getting prevention messages 

on a consistent basis. Here are some ideas 

to make that happen.

• Pass Out Materials at Parent-Teacher 

Conferences or Orientation Nights—

Print out materials such as the 5 

Conversation Goals handout, Talk. They 

Hear You.® Campaign postcards, and 

marijuana/opioid parent brochures to 

hand out to parents during conferences 

or orientation nights. Make sure to 

also direct parents to the Campaign 

website at www.underagedrinking.

samhsa.gov for more useful resources. If 

possible, consider working with school 

administrators to secure a brief time 

slot during orientation or open house to 

talk about underage drinking and other 

drug use prevention with parents and 

caregivers in a more formal setting.

2 Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2018). 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Detailed Tables. Substance 

Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Rockville, MD.

• Present at Parent Teacher Association 

(PTA) Meetings—Coordinate with 

your school’s PTA to offer prevention 

resources to parents. For instance, 

consider sharing products like the Talk. 

They Hear You. mobile application or 

the 5 Conversation Goals handout for 

parents to practice having conversations 

on underage drinking and drug use 

prevention with their kids. 

• Conduct Train-the-Trainer Programs—

Train school counselors, community 

leaders, and/or parents and caregivers 

to help educate your community about 

the risks associated with underage 

drinking and drug use. Consider 

distributing a Talk. They Hear You.

toolkit with materials such as the 

Five Conversation Goals fact sheet, 

infographics, and digital resources like 

the Discussion Starter Video.

When implementing any of the above 

suggestions, consider using local statistics 

from local law enforcement or health 

departments on underage drinking and 

drug use in your community to show the 

importance of these topics.

www.underagedrinking.samhsa.gov

SMA-18-5072