This digest, based on a longer document titled "Alcohol and Other Drugs: Use, Abuse, and Disabilities" by Peter E. Leone, addresses the following questions: (1) "Are students with disabling conditions more likely to use or abuse alcohol or other drugs than their peers?" (usually a "no" response); (2) "Are…

This digest summarizes information on incidence in and identification and intervention of potentially suicidal children and youth with disabilities. Estimates suggesting that some categories of exceptional youth have higher suicide rates than the general population are cited. Suicide risk factors and signs that a student is potentially suicidal…

Preventive and coping strategies that provide school security include techniques to obtain and analyze data in order to identify trends and to develop a school security needs assessment. Other security measures involve special training for teachers, supervision, and a crisis plan. Administrators who examine and upgrade their schools' security…