Our organization just released the results of a first-of-its-kind study with the Georgia Institute of Technology showing that active shooter drills are associated with significant and lasting increases in depression, anxiety and fear of death among students, parents and teachers. https://twitter.com/NBCNews/status/1301534682501308416

After analyzing 28M social media posts in the 90 days before and after local active shooter drills, Georgia Tech and @Everytown researchers found these harmful emotions lasted at least 90 days post-drills in districts across the US using a wide variety of drill tactics.

After active shooter drills, anxiety increased most in high school communities and depression increased most in middle schools. There was a statistically significant increase in posts with words like pain, blood, and pills, as well as posts about social and personal concerns.

This study reaffirms that active shooter drills are likely doing more harm than good. And there's a clear lack of scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of these drills for preventing school shootings or for protecting the school community in the event of a shooting.

We do not recommend involving students in active shooter training exercises. But we do recommend evidence-based school safety strategies, including threat assessment programs, access to mental health professionals, non-punitive disciplinary processes and community conversations.

If a school insists on doing drills, we recommend they not simulate a gun violence event; parents should have advance notice of drills; schools should create age and developmentally appropriate and trauma-informed drill content; schools should track drill efficacy and impact.

Bottom line: The best way to protect students/faculty is to stop gun violence BEFORE it gets into schools. Gun sales surged in recent months, many to first-time buyers. Most school shooters are students who access unsecured guns from home and nearly always show warning signs.

Lawmakers need to take actions to keep guns out of schools in the first place, including passing Red Flag laws. Gun owners need to securely store their firearms. And parents needs to ask how guns are stored when sending kids to homes of friends and family. http://besmartforkids.org