Summary:
Safe schools are fundamental to creating safe cities, safe environments and safe lives as a whole. Schools are the building blocks of communities and the youth. Safety at school is a necessity.
Drug Awareness
One of the most common safety issues within schools is the propagation of drugs. According to this article, by the American Addictions Center, “35% of 12th graders smoked marijuana in the past year, 30% drank some alcohol, 14% binge drank, 6% drove after drinking, 17% rode with a driver who had been drinking” and “In 2016, 3.6% of adolescents aged 12-17 reported misusing opioids over the past year.” This drug use can severely affect the development of the youth. Addiction can easily begin at a young age, and with certain drugs, irreversible negative effects can manifest. The chances of death, mental health issues, physical issues, etc. are all increased through the consumption of illicit drugs in general. It is made especially worse through the fact that younger individuals may not be fully aware of what they are getting themselves into by partaking in these drugs, and that's why drug awareness is vital for creating a safe healthy school environment. The youth should be aware of the full spectrum of negative effects of drug use. Schools should put resources into honest and educational programs that promote drug awareness / sobriety. Individually, young people should seek to stay sober whilst promoting sobriety in their friend groups or communities.
School Community:
A safe school has to have an overall positive and constructive community. Students should actively seek positive communities / groups within their school. Whether it's a club, an after school program, a sport, these extracurriculars are beneficial in a multitude of ways. They can give good role models, teach discipline, responsibility, have students with common interests interact with each other, etc.
