Substance Abuse Prevention/Intervention

TUSD's Comprehensive Health Education Department addresses the impact of substance abuse on academic achievement through Project F.A.S.S.T. (Family and Student Support Team). The F.A.S.S.T. team consists of three Master level Intervention Specialists who use Arizona Department of Education approved prevention strategies to provide early intervention and prevention services to concerned students, staff, and families. Through collaborative efforts with middle and high school site administrators and staff, including counselors, nurses, psychologists, and social workers, F.A.S.S.T. provides support groups, individual mentoring, and consultation with parents and probation officers. During the 2008-2009 academic year, Project F.A.S.S.T. served 9 high schools and 19 middle schools by facilitating 45 support groups with 603 students participating. Project F.A.S.S.T. integrates proven strategies that focus on:

• Study habits/academic support - Identifying tutoring and other extra-class academic supports.
• Communication/peer relationship - Identifying and supporting assertive and positive problem solving techniques.
• Drug resistance skills - Identifying and practicing healthy stress reduction and drug refusal techniques.

Research demonstrates that prevention programs using these strategies increase academic and social competence.

Botvin (1995)
Scheier (1999)
Hawkins, Catalamo, & Miller (1992)

Schools included this year: Carson MS, Catalina HS, Cholla HS, Doolen MS, Fickett MS, Gridley MS, Hohokam MS, Mary Meredith HS, Palo Verde HS, Pistor MS, Pueblo HS, Rincon HS, Sabino HS, Sahuaro HS, Tucson HS, Utterback MS, Vail MS, Valencia MS and Alternative to Suspension Programs at Magee MS and Roskruge MS.

• NHSDA Report: "Academic Performance & Youth Substance Use"
• Project F.A.S.S.T. Releases End of Year Report 2007-2008