Obstacles, Achievements, and Collaboration in Swedish High School Work with Students Consuming Alcohol and Narcotics: Accounts of Teachers, Nurses, and School Counsellors

As shown in previous studies, teachers report that there is a growing need for teacher training regarding alcohol and drug abuse among adolescents, and that many teachers feel uncomfortable with the role of being both teachers and “social workers”. Previous research also indicates that children and youth with good school results and good schooling situations face a lower risk of experiencing social problems as young adults. In this on-going ethnographic study based on observations and field interviews we focus on the experiences of teachers, school nurses, and school counsellors regarding collaborative efforts in cases with young pupils with alcohol and drug abuse. Drawing on an ethnomethodological and symbolic interactionism perspective, we focus on the accounts of school staff who face pupils with these problems. We are mainly interested in 1) the organizational efforts and measures taken to enabling the schooling situation of the pupils, as well as 2) the emotional toll it has on the staff involved. We also focus on collaboration difficulties regarding schools, parents, social workers, as well as other welfare institutions. The preliminary findings suggest that there are various conflicting demands regarding the work tasks and emotional commitment of the school staff; on the one hand to ensure a good educational environment for all pupils, and on the other hand to provide emotional support to the students affected by these problems.