2026 School Safety Training Forum

At the intersection of online drug trends, substance use, and gang-associated behavior, how can Digital Threat Assessment® be used as an effective methodology? With platforms such as Discord, Snapchat, and Telegram increasingly used for the illegal buying and selling of substances, Safety/Threat Assessment Teams and law enforcement can often refer to online spaces as the origin of risk-enhancing behaviors among youth. In this workshop, SST imparts tools on how to identify timely digital leakage, assess evolving drug-related coded language, and respond to worrisome digital trends. By examining real-world cases, SST will emphasize how online negative peer groups are targeting High Risk and Vulnerable Youth (HRVY) and how Digital Threat Assessment® (DTA®) continues to be fundamental in preventing tragedy.