Substance Use Awareness
Substance use awareness is a critical component of maintaining safe and secure school environments. Youth use of legal or illegal substances can significantly influence how they perceive and respond to various situations, potentially affecting their decision-making, behavior, and emotional regulation. Understanding how different substances impact the developing brain and body is essential for early identification, prevention efforts, and effective response to potential incidents.
Educators, school safety professionals, and students themselves benefit from increased awareness of the behavioral and cognitive effects associated with substance use. This knowledge supports proactive prevention strategies and helps reduce the risk of escalation into more serious safety concerns.
In Nebraska, substances consistently rank among the top three concerns reported through Safe2Help NE, an anonymous reporting system utilized by students. These reports highlight the ongoing importance of addressing substance use as a key factor in school safety and student well-being.
uBEATS Interactive E-Learning Curriculum Resources
uBEATS: Enhancing School Safety Through STEM Learning
UNO & UNMC Building Excellence in Academics Through STEM (uBEATS) is a series of engaging educational modules designed for students in grades 6–12. These modules serve as a companion resource to your core curriculum, offering additional, high-quality content that builds on what students are already learning in the classroom.
Developed by education and STEM experts at the University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO) and the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), uBEATS provides a trusted, research-based learning experience.
Why Use uBEATS?
- Enhances school safety education
- Supports substance use awareness
- Engages students with interactive, STEM-focused content
- Easy to integrate into existing coursework
Accessing uBEATS
Getting started is simple:
- Teachers complete a registration form.
- Once registered, teachers receive access to the free uBEATS library of course modules.
- Teachers can then share access with their students via the platform.
Note: To keep uBEATS free, teachers are asked to register individually and not share the full library outside their classrooms.
Recommended Focus Areas
While the uBEATS library includes a wide range of modules, the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) School Safety Team recommends focusing on three key course module areas that are most effective in improving:
- Student substance use awareness
- Overall school safety and security outcomes
Academic Success Modules
Behavioral Health Modules
Vaping Prevention Lesson Modules
