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Attention Grade 9 Parents: Substance Use Preventative Health Screening
Published on Oct 3, 2019 17:55
Dear Families,
This year all Massachusetts school districts are required to include a substance use preventative screening as part of their annual mandated universal health-screening program. Our district will use the Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) protocol with students in grade 9. The SBIRT protocol facilitates a one-on-one conversation between each student and a school nurse or counselor in an effort to prevent or at least delay the start of using harmful substances, such as alcohol and marijuana. This program focuses on reinforcing healthy decisions and addressing concerning behaviors around substance use with the goal of improving health, safety, and success in school.
According to the 2018 Metrowest Adolescent Health Survey:
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60% of our Millis High School students reported having used alcohol (36% within the past 30 days)
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32% reported having used marijuana (22% in the past 30 days)
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51% reported using electronic vapor products (38% in the past 30 days)
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7% reported misusing prescription drugs over their lifetime
These numbers are alarming. We view the SBIRT protocol as an important tool in reducing substance use/abuse.
We will use the CRAFFT II screening interview, which is the most commonly used substance use screening tool for adolescents in Massachusetts. All screenings will be private conversations conducted in a confidential setting with one of the nurses or counselors trained in SBIRT screening. Students who are not using substances will have their healthy choices reinforced. The screener will provide feedback to any student who reports using substances or is determined to be at risk for future substance use. What your child tells the screener is confidential and will not be shared with any other person without the student’s prior written consent.
Please refer to M.G.L. Chapter 71, Section 97(c) “any statement...made by a pupil during a verbal substance use disorder screening shall be considered confidential and shall not be disclosed by a person receiving the statement...except in cases of immediate medical emergency.” In this case, the screener and student will determine next steps together. Additionally, no written record of the results of this verbal screening is kept with information that identifies any individual student, and screening results will not be included in your child’s school record.
As with any school screening, you have the right to opt your child out of this screening. If you wish to opt out, please complete the reverse side of this form and return to the school nurse. Please contact Lynn Molinari at (508) 376-7009 if you have any questions about this program. Additionally, screening is voluntary and students may choose not to answer any or all of the screening questions. Screenings will be conducted on October 10, 2019.
We encourage all parents/guardians to talk with their child about substance use. You can view the CRAFFT tool and other SBIRT resources on www.masbirt.org/schools website. Together, schools and parents can make a difference for the youth in our community.
Sincerely,
Robert Mullaney
Principal
MILLIS HIGH SCHOOL
SBIRT Parent Opt out Form
Return to Lynn Molinari, School Nurse
[email protected]
508 - 376 - 7009
I,_________________________________________, DO NOT give permission for my child,
__________________________________________ to participate in the SBIRT screening at Millis High School.
______________________________ ________________
Signature of Parent/ Guardian Date
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