Sessions

Comprehensive Student Assistance Programs

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Session Info

 

This presentation will discuss the development, implementation, and benefits of a comprehensive Student Assistance Program. This model, which includes a robust program of prevention, early intervention, treatment, and recovery, creates opportunities for many students to obtain support before issues emerge and/or progress to significant illness. These efforts have long-term impacts on overall health and well-being, as well as improved academic success, which can be supported with data. For students who have identified/diagnosable substance use issues, this comprehensive model reduces barriers to accessing treatment in the community (transportation, availability, funding, etc.) and reduces disruption to academics for appointments in the community. A comprehensive system also reduces stigma and increases help-seeking behavior, which can shorten the time frame students go without care. When services are tied to the school, the burden is lessened on parents, and services can be better coordinated between systems.

Services delivered within the school building allow for better coordination between systems and encourage alignment of educational and overall student well-being, serving the whole child. School systems also benefit from increased student attendance when services can be accessed at the school, both by reducing time away from school for appointments in the community and school bonding when the full spectrum of students' needs are met in the school building. School climate and culture is improved when a robust system of behavioral health and well-being is implemented. Students who receive necessary care show an increase in academics and readiness to benefit from instruction and engage better in classes.

Objectives:

1. Introduce participants to the Student Assistance Program framework and how it is applied within school settings to address substance use across tiers of support

2. Participants will understand how this framework can be used to structure supports and services that are responsive to the individual needs of students

3. Participants will learn about the efforts undertaken across the Capital Region ESD 113 area to develop and sustain Student Assistance Programs and the impact it has had on students.

 

Speakers

Pharmacology & Toxicology of Impaired Driving: From Theory to Practice

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Session Info

This interdisciplinary session equips law enforcement officers, school administrators, and scientists with a scientific and practical foundation on substances most often implicated in impaired driving. It covers alcohol and both traditional and emerging cannabinoids, focusing on pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, formulations, and real-world driving impact. Participants will learn to assess current data and understand detection limitations, public trends, and toxicological challenges. Through evidence-based instruction and case analysis, this session enhances enforcement, institutional safety, and research-informed decision-making.

Who Should Attend:

  • Law enforcement practitioners, including those involved with ARIDE and DRE programs, seeking deeper understanding of drug-related impairment and enforcement strategies 
  • School and institutional administrators responsible for safety policy, substance use interventions, and response planning
  • Scientists, forensic toxicologists, and researchers engaged in impaired driving investigations, testing development, or policy evaluation

Key Features:

  • Case study–driven and interdisciplinary format, blending pharmacology, policy, behavioral science, and field applications
  • Focus on emerging substances and poly-use trends, including novel cannabinoids
  • Discussion on analytical challenges, detection limits, and forensic reporting in biological sampling
  • Actionable outcomes tailored to enhance enforcement efficacy, toxicological interpretation, and institutional safety strategies

Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

  1. Define basic pharmacology and toxicology principles applicable to alcohol and drugs commonly seen in impaired-driving cases.
  2. Discuss detection and prevalence trends for alcohol and both traditional and emerging cannabinoids.
  3. Critically appraise current scientific data on substance effects on driving, including pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and formulation differences.
  4. Describe the common challenges faced by the public (e.g. new products, user behavior) and professionals (e.g. toxicologists, enforcement) in identifying impairment from biological evidence.

Speakers

How Social Media and Vaping Drive a New Era of Teen Drug Use

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Session Info

In today’s world, social media isn’t just shaping teen culture—it’s fueling a dangerous shift in youth drug trends. This session dives deep into how platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram have become virtual marketplaces for nicotine, marijuana, counterfeit pills, and other substances, often hidden in plain sight. We’ll examine the latest social media trends that glamorize risky behavior, from viral vape tricks to drug-themed challenges, and how these trends normalize use while lowering perceived risk.

We’ll also address the growing crisis of sextortion—where predators use social media to exploit teens for explicit content or money—and its alarming connection to substance abuse, mental health struggles, and overdose cases.

Drawing from real-world law enforcement cases, school incidents, and prevention efforts, this session will equip educators, parents, and professionals with the tools to recognize warning signs, understand the digital drug economy, and take proactive steps to protect today’s youth from both online exploitation and drug harm.

Speakers

forever 15
naadac
Safe and Sound Schools
Tall Cop Says Stop
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