Rightsize. Right Support. Right for Students.
Portland Public Schools is undertaking a districtwide rightsizing process to better align our schools, programs, and resources with the needs of today’s students and the realities shaping our future.
PPS Substance Use Services provides prevention, consultation, counseling, education, and individualized support related to youth substance use. Services are designed to help students and families access support while strengthening prevention efforts across schools and the broader community.
This work includes individualized services provided by PPS Certified Drug & Alcohol Counselors (CADCs) and districtwide prevention and community partnership efforts through THRIVE PPS.
PPS Certified Drug & Alcohol Counselors (CADCs) provide individualized, school-based support for students experiencing concerns related to substance use. CADCs work directly with students while also consulting with families, school staff, and community providers to help students access appropriate support and make informed decisions.
CADCs provide individual support focused on treatment readiness, decision-making, substance use education, and understanding how alcohol or other drug use may be affecting a student's life and well-being.
Students, families, and school staff can consult with a CADC to ask questions, discuss substance use concerns, identify appropriate next steps, and connect with treatment or other community-based resources when needed.
CADCs partner with schools to provide education and resources, engage students when concerns about possible substance use arise, and provide individualized support related to substance use concerns, including support connected to Level A responses.
CADCs can help students and families connect with substance use treatment and provide ongoing support when students return to school following treatment or other substance-related services.
About CADC services: CADCs provide school-based substance use support and do not provide comprehensive substance use treatment. When additional treatment is needed, CADCs can help students and families connect with appropriate community-based services.
PPS staff can refer a student for substance use support, and students or families may request support directly. Use the appropriate form below to connect with a PPS Certified Drug & Alcohol Counselor.
School staff can submit a referral when there are concerns about a student's substance use or when consultation, outreach, counseling, education, treatment connection, or other individualized support may be helpful.
Submit a Staff ReferralTHRIVE PPS is a district substance use prevention initiative supported through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Drug-Free Communities program. The initiative brings together schools, students, families, and community partners to strengthen prevention efforts and reduce youth substance use.
THRIVE PPS supports collaboration among schools, students, families, and community partners to strengthen coordinated approaches to youth substance use prevention.
The initiative supports prevention strategies that address factors associated with youth substance use while strengthening protective factors that help young people make healthy decisions.
THRIVE PPS helps strengthen sustainable prevention efforts across the district by connecting community expertise, resources, partnerships, and prevention strategies.
