We are pleased to share this week’s blog with Joanna Mlicka-Anderko, Demand Reduction Coordinator for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New Jersey Division and the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program:

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Discovery Education have joined forces to combat the growing epidemic of prescription opioid misuse and heroin use nationwide. Operation Prevention’s mission is to educate students about the true impacts of opioids and kick-start lifesaving conversations in the home and classroom. The initiative offers the following expanded collection of no-cost resources for elementary, middle and high school students, teachers and parents:

• Digital Classroom Lessons

Classroom-ready interactive lessons aligned to national health and science standards

• Parent Toolkit

Family discussion guide, which provides information on the warning signs of opioid misuse and a guide to prevention and intervention

• Video Challenge

Encourages students to send a message to their peers about the dangers of prescription opioid misuse by creating a 30-to-60-second original Public Service Announcement for a chance to win a scholarship

• On Demand Virtual Field Trip

Leading experts, including DEA agents and pharmacologists, provide facts on drugs and addiction

All materials are online at www.operationprevention.com in English and Spanish and are updated every year for content. For more information, please contact Demand Reduction Specialist Joanna Anderko at janderko@nynjhidta.org.