Schools in Butler County have programs to help students make healthy life choices

September 26, 2006 Last Updated: September 26, 2006 03:49 PM Education

Schools throughout Butler County have a number of programs to help students make healthy lifestyle choices.

These may include dealing with negative peer pressure, bullying, positive decision making, and how to handle drug and alcohol decisions.

Also mentoring programs are particular effective in causing positive change.

Here are some of these programs. For specific information, contact a teacher or guidance counselor.

The Drug Abuse Resistance Education program is designed to equip students with ways to avoid negative influences and focus on their own strengths and potential.Through the collaboration of schools and law enforcement, the DARE program educates students about the personal and social consequences of substance abuse and violence.This program is available at most schools, and any student can become a member. Talk to your homeroom teacher or guidance counselor for information.

The Student Assistance Program assists faculty and staff members identify problems, such as alcohol, tobacco, drugs and mental health issues, in school.People trained in this program can identify these problems and make recommendations to students and parents.SAP is active in most schools in Butler County and all public schools.

This is a school based organization that develops a positive peer pressure group in schools and the community.Members of this group, who vow to abstain from use of drugs and alcohol, prove teenagers can remain straight and clean and not give in to negative peer pressure.It is open to any student at Butler Junior High School, and other schools in the Butler School District plan start this program this school year as well.

The Carl W. Stenberg Scholarship program, which was established in 1993, focuses on the prevention of drug and alcohol abuse among children.The scholarships have been created to honor students referred to their local SAPteam. SAPteam members selects the student they believe has made the most improvement regarding his reason for referral and will award that student with a $4,000 scholarship.

There are a number of self-improvement programs at your school. Check with you guidance counselor about getting involved with these programs:• TATU: Teens against tobacco use• BYTE: Butler Youth Tobacco Education• SADD: Students against destructive decisions• Eddie Eagle: Healthy choices and safety lessons• Adult D&A Awareness: Illegal and prescription drug education• College Bound: Educates high school seniors on risks and consequences of drugs and alcohol use as it relates to transition from high school• Say "No" to Drugs with the Pittsburgh Penguins: Activities are developed and implemented by students• NOT: Tobacco cessation program• Reality Tour: Prevention dramatization illustrating the dangers of drug use.• Internet Safety: Educating on dangers of instant messenger, Web sites, and communities such as MySpace.• Drug Awareness Program: Butler County Detective Pat Cannon educates on the negative impact of drugs.• Senior High Peer Leadership: Trained students return to school to work with SADD, TATU, Peer tutoring/mentoring, Starfish and Kids that Care programs.• Reach/Strive Prevention plus Training: Afour-day peer leadership training for anti-drug and alcohol club members.• On Applebee Pond and Kid Power: Drug and alcohol prevention using puppets for elementary pupils.• BABES: Beginning alcohol and addictions basic education studies.• STOP: Students together organizing prevention• TADA: Teens against drugs and alcohol• Teen Institute: A two-day drug and alcohol education• Adopt-A-School: A program promoting good mental and physical health• Smokeless Saturday: tobacco education• Red Ribbon Week: Teaches the effects of alcohol use on one's body, family, friends and community through a variety of activities.