PUSD Superintendent: We Must Admit Problem of Youth Substance Abuse

During a discussion about the state of the with Pleasanton Patch last week, Superintendent Parvin Ahmadi opened up about what she perceives as challenges Pleasanton’s families and schools need to face.

Primary among her concerns is the issue of substance abuse, particularly drug and alcohol use by children.

“Until we start actually acknowledging the problem, we won’t understand it,” she said.

“Unless we start acknowledging the fact that this is an issue and that drug addiction is a disease, then we can't do a good job attacking it."

She is learning of Pleasanton’s youth drug and alcohol problem from sources outside the city.

“Not only is this on our radar because of what we see in the schools and out in the community, but it’s also been brought to our attention by groups outside of our district such as Mothers With a Purpose, such as the District Attorney’s office,” she said.

Captain Craig Eicher of the Pleasanton Police Department said that a critical step is to educate parents about how to deal with youth substance abuse.

"The interesting aspect of what's going on is that parents are very aware that there are problems with drugs at the schools," said Eicher. "In some cases it might be on campus but in close proximity to the schools."

The police department monitors areas close to schools where drug use has been reported, said Eicher. But he explained that when drugs are present in other locations, the police need to be informed in order to help.

"The problem is that the parents are not talking to us about it."

Eicher said many parents are fearful that police intervention will leave a negative mark on their child's record or lead to expensive court fees.

"But we can (cite a child) for drug use and still have a non-punitive disposition as long as they go through certain programs," said Eicher.

"Our goal is to get them into treatment."

Data for Pleasanton from the most recently released California Healthy Kids Survey (2010), offer insight into drug use by Pleasanton youth. In Pleasanton, 84 percent of 7th graders participted in the 2009-2010 survey; 85 percent of 9th graders participated; and 73 percent of 11th graders participated.

Results of the Pleasanton survey demonstrated the following percentages of drug or alcohol use among 7th, 9th and 11th graders.

Seventh graders:

• Had tried alcohol (one full drink) at least once: 11 percent
• Used alcohol within 30 days prior to survey: 6 percent
• Had tried inhalants (to get high) at least once: 10 percent
• Used inhalants within 30 days prior to survey: 4 percent
• Had tried marijuana at least once: 3 percent
• Used marijuana within 30 days prior to survey: 2 percent

 Ninth graders:

• Had tried alcohol (one full drink) at least once: 27 percent
• Used alcohol within 30 days prior to survey: 13 percent
• Had tried inhalants (to get high) at least once: 9 percent
• Used inhalants within 30 days prior to survey: 4 percent
• Had tried marijuana at least once: 13 percent
• Used marijuana within 30 days prior to survey: 18 percent

 Eleventh graders:

• Had tried alcohol (one full drink) at least once: 54 percent
• Used alcohol within 30 days prior to survey: 29 percent
• Had tried inhalants (to get high) at least once: 10 percent
• Used inhalants within 30 days prior to survey: 3 percent
• Had tried marijuana at least once: 31 percent
• Had used marijuana within 30 days prior to survey: 18 percent

“I think that we have to get beyond the idea that we are perfect and that those issues (of drug and alcohol use) aren’t happening,” said Ahmadi.

“I think we needed to look in the mirror and admit we’ve got some things we need to address.”

After the community admits the problem, Ahmadi said, families, schools and the community need information and tools to tackle it.

“First, you need knowledge and to find out exactly what other data there is. Then you need to look at what practices are in place that you may have to change or strategies you may have to employ.”

To reach the goal of informing the public and educating families and schools about how to solve these problems, Ahmadi said the school district has, in the past year, partnered with the Pleasanton Police Department and other local organizations such as Mothers with a Purpose and to host seminars regarding youth stress, drug and alcohol use.

“The (in May) we had at the was amazing,” she said.

“I can’t tell you how stunned people were – parents, especially, by what they heard about drug and alcohol use by kids.

Ahmadi also noted the issue of prescription drug abuse among youth, a concern that was echoed by Captain Eicher.

"It’s pretty common," he said.

The Pleasanton Police Department, along with the city, has been hosting period drug drop-off events so that people with prescription drugs they're no longer using can give them to the police for proper disposal. Captain Eicher said a drug drop-off event should be taking place in October.

Education and intervention still remain priorities.

“We are in shock about some of the information we're learning,” said Ahmadi.

“Now we need to give people skills to deal with it.”

This new column, Pleasanton School Notes, will appear every other week. Here, Patch will report on goings-on at local schools and feature faculty, staff, students, academic and extracurricular programs and community outreach efforts. Please contact with story ideas.