Addressing Youth Substance Abuse in the La Grande School District
By Garrett Christensen on Friday, September 16th, 2022 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
LA GRANDE – Substance abuse comes in many different forms and can involve many different age groups. Curiosity, peer pressure and even apathy toward one’s own health can also quickly foster addictive habits among youth. La Grande School Resource Officer Justin Hernandez has a front row seat to ongoing substance abuse patterns in the district and is taking steps to address addiction and unhealthy habits in the classroom.
With approximately three years’ worth of drug enforcement and narcotics investigation experience, Hernandez aims to tackle the growing youth drug issue head on through a new information and awareness campaign involving a series of talks, activities and guest speakers. At its core, the awareness campaign serves as a revitalization of the previous D.A.R.E campaigns but with an emphasis on realistic scenarios, practical information and teachable skills that kids can use to understand and avoid addiction related habits. As described by Hernandez:
“We’re teaching them strategies and tactics that you can apply to a lot of situations and scenarios in life, not just drugs. So, we’re giving them those tools but also, we’re going to educate on drugs. ‘Hey, here’s what it looks like, here’s why you don’t want to do it. Here’s some pictures of some meth mouth.’”
In particular, emphasis will be given to teaching students just how much weight their decisions carry with regards to their physical and mental health. The highschoolers, for example, will discuss drunk driving and even get to wear ODOT provided Drunk Goggles to visually simulate intoxication. For younger students, as young as fifth grade, the dangers and long-term impacts of hard substances, such as methamphetamine, will be covered in detail. As further explained by Hernandez:
“If they just have an understanding of like, ‘hey, this is where the road goes.’ Maybe it’s not going to be so enticing. Maybe the excitedness of trying that or the curiosity won’t be there. It’s like, I’ll tell you what it’s going to get you and it’s not going to go over well. So, let’s not waste our time trying it.”
Regardless of the individual topic or substance being discussed however, students will be taught to understand just how damaging addictive habits are, how such habits form and why the moment-to-moment enjoyment and relief is not worth it. This more direct approach to drug awareness is not without warrant according to Hernandez, who has seen an uptick in drug usage among La Grande’s middle and high school students. Hard substance distribution and vape addiction in particular have caused alarm. Hernandez noted at least one instance of students, aged 13-14, possessing and attempting to distribute cocaine while youth interest in methamphetamine and similar hard substances is allegedly high.
“And it’s going to continue to be a problem. We’re just two years out from Measure 110 passing. Talking to Cody [Bowen], he’s like, ‘Dude, I’ve never seen meth or cocaine, even at the high school level.’ And to see 14-year-old kids literally getting cocaine and methamphetamine off of 13 and 14-year-old kids and hearing about kids as young as sixth grade experimenting with it, that’s the real problem. And it hasn’t come to what it’s going to be, in my opinion, but the fact is that I’m pulling that stuff outta kid’s pockets right now,” explained Hernandez
Vaping and vape addiction have similarly become an issue, to the point where the school district has decided to install Vape detectors. According to Hernandez, students will often congregate to vape in bathrooms in such frequency and numbers that students not interested in vaping will simply avoid the areas entirely. Usage has apparently become so widespread that students as early as grade school have been partaking. As further explained by Hernandez:
“That’s all they can think about. They can’t function. They’re not focusing on school when it comes to that. That slowly begins to take place over sports and academics. They can’t function at school without it, and they’re moody and they have mood swings. So, then we have some behavioral problems that we have to worry about at school.”
The awareness campaign and its associated lesson plans are still awaiting final approval but will be fully implemented this school year. For the full interview transcript and recording, visit: SRO Hernandez: Protecting and Mentoring La Grande Students – Elkhorn Media Group
