Drug & Alcohol Prevention

Holy Cross addresses drug and alcohol use through a multi-modal program that attempts to educate the students by informing them of the physiological and psychological dangers that can come with both legal and illicit drug use. Students are exposed to this information through Guidance Lessons conducted by the counselors, immersive off-campus field trips, grade level retreats, and individual sessions with counselors on an as-need basis. The counselors attempt to address not only the dangers and addictive properties of drug and alcohol use, but also the associated peer-pressures that go along with exposure to drug use in the context of students’ social interactions. Special attention is also paid to the unique cultural environment of New Orleans and how that may affect the way that students, families, and peers view alcohol and drug use. Specific grade level information and programs include:

• 5th: Basic health education, including dangers of smoking and excessive drinking as well as discussion of how to handle peer pressure
• 6th: Program coming soon
• 7th: Drug specific health and danger education with a focus on how alcohol and drugs impact developing minds
• 8th: Program coming soon
• 9th: Peer pressure interventions centered around parties, Mardi Gras, etc.
• 10th: Sudden Impact Program
• 11th: Program coming soon
• 12th: Binge drinking, combining drugs (i.e. pot & booze – energy drinks & booze – mixing pharmaceuticals, etc), and psychological drug habits and addiction.