We thought it would be fitting to write an article about drug education since we are a corporate sponsor for the Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) organization.
Recently, the Drug Policy Alliance launched the nation’s first harm reduction-based drug education curriculum for high school teachers called, Safety First: Real Drug Education for Teens. This school curriculum is in-line with National Health Education Standards as well as Common Core State Standards, which in turn means that it can easily be integrated into health classes.
We, as a corporation operating in the cannabis industry, have a social responsibility to ensure that our nation’s youth have all of the resources needed to make the right decisions while being informed, and more importantly, safe. Safety First encourages teachers to have open and honest conversations with their students, equipping them with the skills to navigate their risks by increasing students' knowledge of harm reduction, drug knowledge regarding alcohol, cannabis, and opioids, and also how to detect and respond to a drug-related overdose.
This FREE curriculum consists of 15 lessons that cover each of the following topics:
- What is a drug?
- Introduction to harm reduction
- How drugs work
- Stimulants
- Cannabis
- Vaping and e-cigarettes
- Alcohol and other depressants
- Prescription and other opioids
- Psychedelics
- Mental health and coping
- Understanding zero tolerance
- Health and policy
- Looking back, looking forward
- A healthy future
Sasha Simon, who is the Safety First Program Manager for the Drug Policy, was quoted saying, “Safety First was created in response to a lack of accurate, science-based and compassionate drug resources in schools.”
“With nearly 70,000 people dying of accidental overdose last year alone, it is essential that our young people develop the necessary skills to navigate their risks. Not only will it protect them while in school, but it will serve as a foundation for them to foster healthy attitudes and habits around drugs that they will carry with them throughout their lives.”
The Drug Policy Alliance does offer other drug education resources for educators and parents. These resources provide advice and tips for talking with teens about drugs, which discourages young people from using alcohol and other drugs.
You can learn more about Safety First here.
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