Implementing alcohol and drug prevention programs well can be difficult for busy schools. The RAND Corporation is applying for funds from the National Institute of Health (NIH) to provide implementation support—using the Getting To Outcomes® (GTO) approach—to select districts and educators for Project ALERT, an evidence-based alcohol and drug prevention program. 

What is Project ALERT?

•An alcohol and drug prevention program that has been proven to help middle school students avoid drinking and drug use 

•Online lesson plans, teaching materials and student handouts for 14 sessions (eleven 7th grade sessions and three 8th grade sessions)

What is Getting To Outcomes (GTO)?

•A 10-step process to plan, implement, self-evaluate and improve programs

•Delivered through online training, guides and tools – along with 1-to-1 technical support – that will help educators implement Project ALERT well

•GTO has been shown to help providers run alcohol and drug prevention programs more effectively

Participating schools will receive GTO and Project ALERT training, materials and support for implementation

•All districts will be asked to deliver Project ALERT to at least 40 middle school youth over two years.

•Participating districts will receive intensive support for use of Project ALERT through GTO. GTO includes training, access to an online interactive web portal, and 1-to-1 technical assistance. However, not all schools will receive access to the web portal at the same time. Decided at random, half of the schools will start using the portal in 2015 and the other half will gain access in 2017.

•Educators in the GTO group will communicate with GTO staff regularly about their use of Project ALERT and receive fast feedback for planning and teaching lessons.

Assessing the effectiveness of the GTO Web Portal

•RAND will survey students right before they participate in Project ALERT and at two additional timepoints. Youth will receive a gift card for completing a survey. Educators will participate in annual surveys and interviews with RAND over the course of the project. Educators will receive a free gift card for participating in any survey or interview. 

*If interested in this potential opportunity, contact Julia Kaufman at jkaufman@rand.org or 412-683-2300, extension 4499, to learn more and/or place your school district’s name on the list of participants that will receive free support if NIH funds this study.

As the end of the school year approaches, don't forget to download Project ALERT Graduation Certificates for your students as they complete their program!

Fewer American teens are abusing inhalants, such as spray paint, glue and gasoline, according to a new government report. The number of teens ages 12 to 17 who used inhalants dropped from 820,000 in 2011, to about 650,000 in 2012.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which released the findings, defines inhalants as “liquids, sprays and gases that people sniff or inhale to get high or to make them feel good,” UPI reports.

“This downward trend of inhalant use in adolescents is very encouraging,” Pamela S. Hyde, administrator of the SAMHSA, said in a statement. “Nevertheless, we must all continue our efforts to raise awareness about the dangers and health risks of this deadly and addictive problem among our youth.”

When inhalants are breathed in through the nose or mouth in a variety of ways they are absorbed quickly through the lungs into the bloodstream and the user experiences a rapid but short-lived intoxication.

There are hundreds of household products on the market today that can be misused as inhalants. Examples of products kids abuse to get high include model airplane glue, nail polish remover, cleaning fluids, hair spray, gasoline, the propellant in aerosol whipped cream, spray paint, fabric protector, air conditioner fluid (freon), cooking spray and correction fluid.

These products are sniffed, snorted, bagged (fumes inhaled from a plastic bag), or “huffed” (inhalant-soaked rag, sock, or roll of toilet paper in the mouth) to achieve a high. Inhalants are also sniffed directly from the container.

Within seconds of inhalation, the user experiences intoxication along with other effects similar to those produced by alcohol. Alcohol-like effects may include slurred speech, an inability to coordinate movements, dizziness, confusion and delirium. Nausea and vomiting are other common side effects. In addition, users may experience lightheadedness, hallucinations, and delusions.

Compulsive use and a mild withdrawal syndrome can occur with long-term inhalant abuse. Additional symptoms exhibited by long-term inhalant abusers include weight loss, muscle weakness, disorientation, inattentiveness, lack of coordination, irritability, and depression.

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