New digital course in Pennsylvania targets teen prescription drug safety
A new digital educational resource has been introduced this week to students in grades 8-12 across Pennsylvania to enhance their knowledge and skills for making safe decisions regarding prescription drugs, including understanding the risks of fentanyl and counterfeit pills.
"Prescription Drug Safety: Know the truth," is a collaboration between Truth Initiative and EVERFI from Blackbaud. It is supported by the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General through its Community Drug Abuse Prevention (CDAP) grant programme, funded by the Substance Abuse Education and Demand Reduction Fund.
The course aims to educate students on the proper use of prescription drugs, the dangers of misuse, and the potential for addiction, particularly focusing on the impact of fentanyl—a synthetic opioid significantly implicated in recent overdose deaths.
From 2019 to 2021, fentanyl was involved in 84% of adolescent drug overdose deaths, highlighting the critical need for targeted educational efforts.
Through personal stories and interactive scenarios, the programme includes interactive modules that cover the responsible use of medications, recognising and responding to overdose situations and the realities of drug addiction and recovery. It also addresses the growing problem of counterfeit pills, which have seen a sharp rise in overdose deaths.
Kathy Crosby, CEO and President of Truth Initiative stated:
"Equipping students with the knowledge and skills to prevent prescription drug misuse is crucial.
“Prescription Drug Safety: Know the truth will empower Pennsylvania youth to become safe and informed users of medication, while also providing the tools to recognise and respond to an overdose situation."
In Pennsylvania, the distribution of naloxone in schools is becoming increasingly common, with about 53% of school nurses now stocking the overdose-reversing drug.
Ray Martinez, co-founder and president of EVERFI from Blackbaud said:
"We applaud Attorney General Henry for her dedication to deploying this prevention education initiative across the Commonwealth to ensure students in all communities are provided critical education on prescription drug misuse, opioids, and fentanyl.
"This educational resource has already been found to promote responsible behavior among teens and school districts are seeking out impactful and engaging resources to provide their students with the information needed not just to make healthy choices but also to fight the opioid and fentanyl crisis."
