A practical, scenario-driven session aligning current substance trends with BTA red flags, escalation thresholds, and intervention options for school teams and SROs. Participants will explore how today’s most pressing drug trends—such as fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills, high-potency cannabis, and vaping devices—intersect with student behavior, mental health, and safety risks. Using real-world case studies, the session will demonstrate how to recognize when substance misuse is a contributing factor to escalating grievances or violence potential, and how to embed drug-trend awareness into multidisciplinary threat assessment protocols. Attendees will walk away with strategies for improving decision-making, documenting risk factors, and building stronger partnerships with law enforcement, mental health providers, and community resources.

Services delivered within the school building allow for better coordination between systems and encourage alignment of educational and overall student well-being, serving the whole child. School systems also benefit from increased student attendance when services can be accessed at the school, both by reducing time away from school for appointments in the community and school bonding when the full spectrum of students' needs are met in the school building. School climate and culture is improved when a robust system of behavioral health and well-being is implemented. Students who receive necessary care show an increase in academics and readiness to benefit from instruction and engage better in classes.