What You Can do for Your Student

It’s not always easy for schools to address their students’ substance use. Administrators don’t want to admit a problem exists at their school, and opinions may differ as to the best way to approach problems that are acknowledged.

Parents may exert pressure for schools to do more to educate and protect students, while financial and personnel resources are already stretched thin. The safety and well-being of the student body must be assured, but individuals with substance-related problems need special attention and care.

We give school administrators the information they need to prepare programs to educate their students.

ARMS can help. Our highly-skilled, multidisciplinary team of masters-level clinicians and clinical psychiatrists is trained to work with youth, families and schools, providing an individualized, all-encompassing plan for recovery. This often includes diagnosing any related behavioral or psychiatric conditions that may be contributing to the problem and helping our patients establish goals related to their overall health and well-being and their transition to adulthood. We also provide schools with a variety of resources to help students.

How ARMS Can Help Your Students

ARMS can help schools in many different ways. We give school administrators the information they need to prepare programs to educate their students, offer recommendations on individual cases, and work with schools and parents to stage interventions, when appropriate. We can also provide schools with information about the cost of and training required for specific school-based programs and help schools access available programs in Massachusetts.

ARMS also supports teachers by providing them with a teacher community where they can share information and resources.

Addiction Is a Disease of the Brain

We strive to educate schools about the latest findings related to the relationship between drug and alcohol abuse and brain chemistry, which have led scientists and addiction experts to compare addiction to other chronic diseases, including diabetes, heart disease and hypertension. Learn more about how addiction affects the mental and psychological development of young people.

Warning Signs

We educate administrators and teachers about the warning signs that may indicate their students have a substance-related problem. These indicators include moodiness and a decrease in school participation. Assess your students using the full list of warning signs.

Setting Goals

Encouraging young people to engage in the academic and social life at their school can help them begin to establish healthy behaviors to replace their substance use. Learning to set and achieve goals is also an important part of a successful recovery and transition to adulthood.