Opioid Crisis in Schools: Learning Experiences and Professional Development among School Counselors

The experiences of school counselors and the development of professional practice in response to student opioid use have minimal supporting literature. This study utilized a generic qualitative research design to gather vital information on the learning experiences school counselors attribute to their professional development when working with students who use opioids. Guided interview questions were used during the interviews of the 10 research participants. Data analysis revealed three overarching themes: school counselor training, role of the school counselor, and school counselor challenges. The results of this study reflect the need for drug specific graduate training and professional development opportunities. Consequently, school counselors modify their counseling techniques and seek additional professional development opportunities to increase their competencies related to student opioid use. This study offers recommendations for further examination of school counselor preparedness for supporting students who use opioids. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]