Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse
The Hawthorne School District strives to educate our students on the effects and harm of early use of alcohol and other drugs. We provide education for students to avoid or minimize future problems related to drug and alcohol abuse. Having resources readily available to the community is helpful when we have questions about the effects of drugs and alcohol, as well as when we are looking for community resources. While these resources are not all-inclusive, the websites do provide reliable education and provide “first steps” to connecting with community resources.
Educational Resources
Parents - Drug Information
Preventing Teen Drug Use: How to Spot the Early Warning Signs
Look for Warning Signs of Teen and Young Adult Drug Use
Popular Chat Day Q & A | NIDA for Teens
Substance Use: Prevention and Healthy Living | Wisconsin Department of Health Services
Find Help: ATOD
Alcohol's Effects on the Brain on the App Store
How Drugs Alter Brain Development and Affect Teens
Substance Use Prevention Resources
E-Cigarette Information
Quick Facts on the Risks of E-cigarettes for Young People
Our mission The Truth Initiative
Tobacco is Changing- include a video for parents
E-Cigarette Toolkit - educating on e-cigarettes
Dangers of Synthetic Drugs
Fentanyl is a major contributor to drug overdoses in California, including among youth. Fentanyl is an extremely potent and dangerous synthetic opioid, like heroin and morphine, and is laboratory-engineered to be about 50 times stronger than heroin. This means even small amounts can lead to a fatal overdose. Fentanyl is powerful and difficult to detect.
People who make or sell drugs sometimes add small amounts of fentanyl to other substances in ways that are not noticeable to the user. Fentanyl is now commonly present in counterfeit pills sold on the internet posing as prescription drugs, such as Oxycodone, Xanax, Percocet, Vicodin, and Adderall. Fake prescription pills are easily accessible and often sold on social media and e-commerce platforms, making them available to anyone with a smartphone, including minors. Pills obtained through social media are especially dangerous and the Drug Enforcement Agency reports that 7 out of every 10 pills confiscated contain enough fentanyl to kill.
Fentanyl misuse may result in an intense, short-term high; temporary feelings of euphoria; slowed respiration and reduced blood pressure, nausea, fainting; seizures or death. Methamphetamine misuse may result in agitation; increased heart rate and blood pressure; increased respiration and body temperature; anxiety and paranoia. High doses can cause convulsions, cardiovascular collapse, stroke or death. Overdose may result in stupor, changes in papillary size, cold and clammy skin, cyanosis, coma, and respiratory failure leading to death. The presence of a triad of symptoms such as coma, pinpoint pupils, and respiratory depression are strongly suggestive of opioid poisoning.
With a fentanyl-poisoned drug supply, avoiding drug use is the surest way to prevent an overdose. The only safe medications come from licensed and accredited medical professionals.