Education in the United States is highly influenced by local perceptions, wants, and needs. Parents of children in school are a large portion of the voting block for local political candidates. Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is an educational concept that has gained traction over the past 60 years but has undergone much scrutiny in recent years due to political polarization and media coverage. The purpose of this study is to determine whether parents have differing opinions of SEL which may be evidenced by which type of school they enroll their children in: public, public charter, or private. This information may be beneficial for interested parties such as policymakers, educators, advocates, et cetera. Data from this research, which includes quantitative and qualitative information from parents with children in public, public charter, and private schools, indicates that parents overwhelmingly approve of SEL and consider it a priority in their child(ren)’s education.

Common treatments for substance addiction in the United States (U.S) are the twelve-step programs of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA). However, there is a lack of evidence indicating the effectiveness of AA and NA as substance addiction treatment methods. The U.S. is currently grappling with one of its worst-ever alcohol and drug crises, illustrating that now more than ever it is necessary to examine alternative treatment methods for substance addiction to successfully treat this type of addiction. Thus, Buddhism can be seen as both a complement to and alternative for AA and NA treatment programs for treating substance addiction. The Buddhist teachings and practices of the Four Noble Truths, The Eightfold Path, mindfulness, and meditation can be used to treat substance addiction. Although only recently utilized in the U.S. to treat substance addiction, Buddhist teachings and practices offer a nontheistic approach to recovery which research has shown to be successful in treating substance addiction in countries with established Buddhist cultures. By determining what treatment method is most successful in treating this type of addiction, the U.S. will be able to effectively reduce substance addiction rates -- which is crucial to protect the health, safety, and quality of life for all.