HERPA

Education and PreventionAccording to Geoffrey Kolchin, program analyst with the Pennsylvania Commission on Crimeand Delinquency, “Prevention of heroin use and prescription misuse needs to begin early. Weneed to prevent the greatest number of youth possible from beginning to use any drugs. We needto give kids the skills and ability to refuse to use.”Testimony was provided describing several education programs now being implemented inPennsylvania schools. Some school districts, for example, use the LifeSkills Training Program,an evidence-based prevention program, which has shown a decrease in high-risk behaviorsamong middle school students. This program focuses on teaching prevention, anti-drug norms,drug refusal skills, self-management skills and social skills to adolescents.Judy Rosser, executive director for Blair Drug and Alcohol Partnerships, said, “It has becomeapparent a one-time presentation is not effective in changing behaviors of youth. A solidfoundation of evidence-based programs in the schools is needed to develop the skills in youththat enable and empower their decisions on these issues.”Fred Brason, founder of Project Lazarus in North Carolina, subscribes to the belief thatcommunities are ultimately responsible for their own health and that every drug overdose ispreventable. Project Lazarus developed a wheel concept with seven spokes that can be used inany community. The spokes include:Community education – which changes the perception of the abuse of prescriptiondrugs.Provider education – which outlines the proper treatment of chronic pain, providingoptions instead of medication and reducing the risk of medication diversion and patientoverdose. Hospital emergency department policies – which develop a system-widestandardization of prescribing narcotics.Diversion control – which stresses proper storage and disposal of prescriptionmedication.Pain patient support – which provides alternatives for chronic pain – exercise, physicaltherapy, yoga, acupuncture.Harm reduction – which increases access to naloxone – parents, first responders & lawenforcement.Addiction treatment – which makes access to various treatments available and removesthe stigma associated with addiction.10 | P a g e