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Resources for Individuals Seeking Information & Treatment
Parent & Caring Adult Resources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Positive Parenting Resources:
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health Youth Vaping Parent Education Campaign: GetOUTraged
- MA Substance Abuse Information and Education Helpline Online
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Family Check-Up
- Drug Enforcement Administration Publications: Growing Up Drug-Free: A Parents Guide to Prevention and Prescription for Disaster: How Teens Abuse Medicine
- The Partnership at Drugfree.org:
- The Parent Toolkit - A drug and alcohol prevention resource for parents
- Play Healthy Parent Talk Kit (PDF) - What you need to know before talking to your child about performance-enhancing substances
- AddictionCenter's Teen Substance Abuse Prevention Guide
- Community of Concern Parenting Tools
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Adolescent Health
Youth Resources
Above the Influence: Everyone experiences pressure in life, some of it good, some of it bad. The goal of Above the Influence is to help teens stand up to negative pressures or influences. The more aware you are of the influences around you, the better prepared you will be to face them, including the pressure to use alcohol and drugs. By giving you a new perspective and the latest facts, Above the Influence will provide you with the tools you need to make your own smart decisions.
- Videos made by youth for youth
- True stories of how young people rose above the influence
NIDA for Teens: The National Institute on Drug Abuse created NIDA for Teens to educate adolescents (as well as parents and teachers) on the science behind drug abuse. NIDA partnered with youth to make sure the content addresses appropriate questions and concerns. This website encourages interactive learning through games and quizzes. The Drugs &Health Blog is written by a team of NIDA scientists, science writers, and public health analysts of all ages. The purpose of the blog is to connect youth with the latest scientific research and news to support young people's healthy, smart decisions.
Other Resources:
- Too Smart to Start is a public education initiative sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
- The Cool Spot was created by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and is designed to give youth a clearer picture about alcohol use among their peers.
- Smokefree Teen site is designed and run by people at the National Cancer Institute to help youth understand the decisions they make - especially the decision to quit smoking.
Support Groups, Counseling, & Treatment
Recovery Project and Addiction Campuses serves as an online reference and a 24/7 confidential helpline for those impacted by mental illness and addiction.
RehabSpot's online web guide focused on educating people on substance misuse treatment.
DrugRehab.org has ranked the best 10 drug rehab centers in Massachusetts based on information they've collected on services provided, staff qualifications, reviews from alumni, and positive treatment outcomes.
View a list of support groups, counseling, and treatment locations.
Hudson High School Student-Parent Handbook 2015-2016: The following are excerpts taken directly from the Hudson High School Handbook and available online.
Alcoholic Beverages, Controlled Substances, & Smoking
The use, serving, consumption, or possession of any alcoholic beverage or controlled substances on school property or at school functions is prohibited. Further, any student will be barred from any school-sponsored activity if he or she has consumed alcoholic beverages or drugs prior to attendance at or participation in said school activities. Parents will be contacted, and a conference will be scheduled. Students are reminded that participation in all extracurricular activities and events is a privilege, not a right. The principal will take violations of this policy seriously in determining whether students will continue to be afforded the privilege of such participation. Students are also reminded that violations of this policy may result in suspension and/or expulsion from school.
Students who are in possession of or found using cigarettes, cigarette lighters, matches, or nicotine delivery devices (i.e., e-cigarettes) on school property will be subject to suspension. If found, these items will be confiscated.
Chemical Health Policy for Athletes
The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) Rules provide minimum standards for penalties for student athletes who possess or use alcohol, tobacco, or controlled substances. Hudson High School imposes higher penalties for its athletes (including cheerleaders) who engage in such conduct, as follows:
Any student who, at any time during the regular school year, regardless of the quantity, uses or consumes, possesses, buys/sells, or gives away any drugs, including but not limited to alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana, or any other controlled substance, will be subject to the penalties outlined below. The penalties will also apply to a student who engages in such conduct during the summer vacation period, if the student's team has already begun practice for the coming school year.
"Possession" is broadly defined: A student may be considered to be in possession of an item if it is determined that he/she is knowingly in its presence. All information will be taken into consideration in making this determination. Once the student becomes aware of the presence of a prohibited item, he or she should leave the situation as soon as possible without putting himself/herself at risk.
Any student who hosts a party where alcohol or controlled substances are consumed will be presumed to have knowledge thereof.
Exceptions: It is not a violation for a student to be in possession of prescription medication specifically prescribed for the student's own use by his/her doctor. Nor shall it be a violation for a student to be in the presence of alcohol so long as it is in the control of the student's parent or adult of similar age or older.
National Honor Society By-Laws
Below is an excerpt taken directly from the National Honor Society By-Laws:
Article IV. Section 5. Members failing to maintain standards of character will be notified in writing and a hearing may be required, however any illegal activity in or out of school will result in an immediate hearing before the faculty council to determine whether student shall be dismissed from the organization.
Regulation Restricting Sale of Tobacco Products and Nicotine Delivery Products: No person shall sell tobacco or nicotine delivery products or permit tobacco or nicotine delivery products to be sold to a minor (under 21 years); or not being the minor's parent or legal guardian, give tobacco or nicotine delivery products to a minor (under 21 years).
Regulation Prohibiting Smoking in Workplaces and Public Places (PDF): Smoking is prohibited in enclosed workplaces and:
- Bars
- Nursing homes
- Hotels, motels, inns, bed and breakfasts and lodging homes
- Public transportation
- Municipal-owned and/or municipal-maintained parks, trails, playgrounds, athletic fields and beaches
- The area within twenty-five (25) feet of any municipal building entranceway accessible to the public, except that this shall not apply to a smoker transitioning through such twenty-five (25) foot area
- All outdoor areas where food and/or beverages are served to the public by employees of restaurants, bars and taverns
The use of e-cigarettes is prohibited wherever smoking is prohibited.
The following excerpts are taken directly from Massachusetts laws.
Tobacco on School Grounds (available online)
It shall be unlawful for any student, enrolled in either primary or secondary public schools in the commonwealth, to use tobacco products of any type on school grounds during normal school hours. Each school committee shall establish a policy dealing with students who violate this law. This policy may include, but not be limited to, mandatory education classes on the hazards of tobacco use.
Social Host Law (available online)
Whoever furnishes any such beverage or alcohol for a person under 21 years of age shall be punished by a fine of not more than $2,000 or by imprisonment for not more than one year or both. For the purpose of this section the word "furnish" shall mean to knowingly or intentionally supply, give, or provide to or allow a person under 21 years of age except for the children and grandchildren of the person being charged to possess alcoholic beverages on premises or property owned or controlled by the person charged.
Controlled Substances Act (available online)
- Section 31. Classes of Controlled Substances
- Section 32J. Controlled substances violations in, on, or near school property
- Section 32M. Possession of one ounce or less of marijuana; drug awareness program
An offender under the age of eighteen is required to complete a drug awareness program within one year of the offense for possession of one ounce or less of marihuana. In addition to the civil penalties authorized by Section 32L and 32N of this Chapter, the failure of such an offender to complete such a program may be a basis for delinquency proceedings for persons under the age of seventeen at the time of their offense. The drug awareness program must provide at least four hours of classroom instruction or group discussion and ten hours of community service. In addition to the programs and curricula it must establish and maintain pursuant to Section 7 of Chapter 18A of the General Laws, the bureau of educational services within the department of youth services or any successor to said bureau shall develop the drug awareness programs. The subject matter of such drug awareness programs shall be specific to the use and abuse of marijuana and other controlled substances with particular emphasis on early detection and prevention of abuse of substances.
Do you know a resource that’s not on our list? Reach out to Lauren Antonelli with the name, information, and a link to your resource and she’ll be sure to add it!