Fabian Nacer comes to Graded and talks to students about Drug Abuse

In March and April, Fabian Nacer, a consultant for the Prevention of Drugs and Alcohol Use, came to speak about teenage drug use, to all of the Grade 9 and 10 students in their Health and Physical Education classes.  Fabian grew up in Sao Paulo, in the neighborhood of Moema, and attended a private school.   As a teen, he began experimenting with a wide range of drugs, including alcohol, marijuana and cocaine.   He moved to the USA and when he returned to Brazil, and his addiction to cocaine and crack progressed, he eventually lived on the streets of Sao Paolo for six years, including the area colloquially known as ‘’Cracolândia.’’  After undergoing multiple rehab interventions, he finally overcame his drug addiction and today, he visits schools and institutions throughout Sao Paulo, as a specialist on drug addiction prevention.  His detailed descriptions of his traumas and survival related to drug abuse, were extremely riveting for the Grade 9 and 10 students.  Students openly asked Fabian multitudes of questions throughout his classroom discussions.  Fabian spoke to students about the addiction process and how his behavior and habits with alcohol and marijuana use influenced his experimentation with other drugs.  He also spoke about how drug use can change family and friendships, and the ability to enjoy other activities in life.  Most importantly, he spoke to students about how drug use can affect one emotionally, socially and physically.  By relating his own experiences, he challenged students about their own perspectives related to drug use, including the use of alcohol, marijuana and other illegal drugs. For more information about Fabian’s work, please visit his website.

We plan to continue working with Fabian in the future so that this experience becomes a regular component of our health and wellness program.

Post PTA Coffee Debrief

Wednesday's HS/MS PTA Coffee with Dr. Anthony Wong was well attended and parents left with more ideas and questions to consider. Much of the information that Dr. Wong covered is part of our health curriculum in grades 7 - 12 so our students know quite a bit about the effects of drugs. 


The two presentations provide parents with information on the following questions.

• Are drugs harmful?
• Why do teen try or use drugs?
• What leads to addiction?
• What drugs are available?

• What are the tools available to avoid, prevent or keep away from drugs?

Part 1 of the Presentation

Part 2 of the Presentation


In serving as a voice for high school parents the PTA representatives have expressed a need for more sessions like this for parents and students. We have plans to bring in Fabian Nacer to speak to the high school students and we are working on hosting Dr. Wong for a high school assembly. As part of our health and PE curriculum review and next year's counseling curriculum review we will be looking at revising our long-term strategy for helping students make healthier lifestyle choices. The use of drugs is just one of the areas that is covered.

Please feel free to comment on Dr. Wong's presentation or thoughts that you may have on this topic at Graded.

What Parents Should Know About Drugs and Drug Use

Dr. Anthony Wong will be on campus Wednesday from 8:30 - 10:00 am in the Auditorium for a MS/HS Coffee

In this dialogue, the following topics will be addressed;

1. What are the drugs available to our youngsters?
2. What are the most dangerous drugs?
3. How do drugs act and how do they cause addiction?
4. Why do they drink and try drugs?
5. What is addiction and how does it come about?
6. How do I know my child is using drugs?
7. What are the signs that my child is using drugs?
8. What are the short and long term effects/consequences of drug use in a youngster?
9. How can drug use be avoided or prevented?
10. What can parents, community and school do to make their respective environments safe?

• Drugs and alcohol seem to everywhere nowadays. Everyone who is famous, chic or in the headlines (whether good or bad) seems to be involved with them. Opinion polls seem to indicate that the majority of the people favor drug liberalization, but everyone you know seems to oppose it. Where is the truth?

• There are so many drugs on the market, many new ones that appear more lethal. They are available to anyone and can be acquired over the internet. Bu they can be more readily purchased in raves, nightclubs, “danceterias”, or wherever young people meet. Even more dangerous is the fact that some are fake or counterfeit, more potent and addictive than the real ones.

• All drugs, whether legal or illegal, can be dangerous, depending on the amount or purpose for which they are used. They are even more dangerous in young people, when their bodies and systems are still very immature. But it is worse when experimenting with alcohol and drugs at this age because addiction is much more likely at these early ages. 

• We all have heard of the telltale signs and symptoms of drug use in youngsters. But let me tell you that when you detect these signs and symptoms, it is generally too late, for they appear only when addiction is already established. Many permanent and residual damages, especially to the brain and neural system, will have occurred.

To prevent this chain of events, it is necessary that we establish a healthy and secure ambience for our children, at home, in school and with friends. The first step is to know the enemy and how it infiltrates and acts. Next, we must gain the trust and respect of our children. And finally, establish programs, methods, goals and cooperative measures to prevent and curtail drugs and alcohol in the settings our children are exposed to.

And the end result of these efforts is that it was really worth it.

Anthony Wong, MD, PhD