BESE Requires Evidence-Based, Age-Appropriate Instruction on Opioid Abuse Prevention
BATON ROUGE, La. -- In response to the national opioid crisis, the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) today updated a state policy to integrate evidence-based, age-appropriate instruction on opioid substance abuse into public school prevention education programs and curricula starting in the 2018-2019 school year.
Under the current policy, found in Bulletin 741: Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators, each school system is required to include in the curriculum a program of substance abuse prevention that includes information designed to reduce the likelihood that students injure themselves or others through the misuse and abuse of chemical substances, as well as procedures for identifying students who exhibit signs of misuse or abuse of such substances and procedures for referral for counseling or treatment.
The standing policy requires elementary schools to provide a minimum of 16 contact hours of substance abuse prevention education each school year, and secondary schools to provide a minimum of eight contact hours of substance abuse prevention education each school year for grades 10-12 and 16 hours for grade nine. Instruction in all grades is required to take place within a comprehensive school health program.
The updates approved today add language to the policy that explicitly require schools to include an opioid-specific component in this instruction starting next school year.
"Research shows that prevention programs and awareness campaigns can play a vital role in reducing substance abuse over time," said State Superintendent John White. "We will do our part to prevent opioid addiction and reduce drug misuse among our youth by providing them access to this important content through school-based programs."
BESE's action accompanies a growing national discussion of increased drug addiction and use of opioids, including among youth. In Louisiana, within the last year alone, Gov. John Bel Edwards has signed three opioid-related bills prompting the Louisiana Department of Health, state law enforcement and community partners to work toward local solutions to the opioid epidemic.
"The Louisiana Department of Health has worked to address the opioid epidemic by increasing access to treatment, prevention and recovery services to all residents," said Karen Stubbs, assistant secretary for the Office of Behavioral Health. "We applaud all agencies including BESE, the Department of Education and school systems for engaging our young people in preventative programs. By integrating opioid prevention into school health curricula, the state is increasing awareness in all communities of the risks associated with opioid use and providing a complementary strategy to the ongoing efforts of other advocates."
To ensure school systems and schools can seamlessly implement this curricula, the Louisiana Department of Education will provide them high-quality resources, supports and training. The Department will also track progress to measure the impact of this programming and adjust efforts to address the effects the crisis has on Louisiana families.
Cade Brumley, Superintendent of the Jefferson Parish Public School System and President of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents, said schools welcome the new instruction.
"Statistics show opioid abuse as a growing challenge in America, and it's most appropriate that we find thoughtful, effective ways to combat the concern," Brumley said. "Beyond the classroom, all community stakeholders must step up and contribute for a healthier future."
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