Educators

Looking for resources for elementary, middle or high school? Use the links below to jump to the section that most interest you.

ELEMENTARY
MIDDLE OR HIGH SCHOOL

Youth Serving Organizations

Another important part of our youth initiative is partnering with programs that serve youth outside of the classroom. We offer a variety of presentations and programming opportunities that focus on substance use/misuse prevention, self-care techniques, and resource connection for afterschool and extracurricular groups. Contact our Youth Initiatives Coordinator, Sydney Ross, at sross@metrodrug.org to learn more about our program opportunities.

Generation RX Program

Prescription and over-the-counter medicines are typically accessible and visible in our homes, and children should understand prescription and over-the-counter medication safety at an early age. The Generation RX program are age-appropriate, engaging resources that educate children about medication safety principles, equipping them with a foundation for understanding how to use medicines safely before they enter their teen and adult years.

This program can be implemented in small or large groups, as stand-alone activities or in combination with other lessons. Some activities may be better suited for younger children (grades K-2), while others may be more appropriate for older students (grades 3-5).

Generation RX Elementary Toolkit

Middle & High School

Substance Use and Misuse Prevention Curriculum

My Drug Free Life is a comprehensive substance use and misuse prevention curriculum for middle and high school aged teens that meets the Substance Use and Abuse standards for Knox County Schools. The program includes slideshow presentations, activity ideas, and resource information. The content includes the following:

  • Definition and de-stigmatization of addiction/substance use disorders

  • Overview of different substances (i.e. alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, prescription and over the counter drug misuse, illicit drugs)

  • Short- and long-term effects of substance use/misuse

  • Effects of substances on teen brain development

  • What is drug abuse

  • Proper use vs. misuse of medication

  • Impact of media and advertising on teen drug use

  • Why people use substances, risk factors, and peer pressure

  • Protective factors and positive alternative coping skills
  • How to build self-esteem

  • Understanding addiction

  • Assertive communication and refusal skills

  • Resource connection

  • How to talk to a trusted adult about substance use concerns

Students are challenged to focus on not only how drugs affect their own lives and their own bodies now, but how their decisions affect them in the future, as well as how their decisions affect other people. If you are interested in obtaining My Drug Free Life curriculum material, reach out to our Youth Initiatives Coordinator, Sydney Ross, below.

Email to Learn More

National Institute on Drug Abuse also has many resources available for educators. Please find the resources below.

National Institute on Drug Abuse

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, are potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood (0-17 years). For example:

  • experiencing violence, abuse, or neglect
  • witnessing violence in the home or community
  • having a family member attempt or die by suicide

Also included are aspects of the child’s environment that can undermine their sense of safety, stability, and bonding such as growing up in a household with:

  • substance misuse
  • mental health problems
  • instability due to parental separation or household members being in jail or prison

ACEs are linked to chronic health problems, mental illness, and substance misuse in adulthood. ACEs can also negatively impact education and job opportunities. However, ACEs can be prevented. If you are interested in having an MDC staff member come to your school or business to educate your team on ACES, please email one of the contacts below.  Or, to learn more about ACEs, visit their website below.

Email Miria Galyon
LEARN MORE ABOUT ACES