Drug Prevention Resources
America is facing an "opiod epidemic" and there has been a growing number of overdoses due to opioids. Parents and care givers are a pivotal influence on youth's experimentation and use of substances. The overuse and misuse of prescription and over-the-counter medications, as well as the increasing use of counterfeit drugs and fake pills, is a serious public health threat. Prescription opioid medications, like morphine, hydrocodone, and oxycodone, are prescribe to treat pain, but are increasingly being misused. Additionally, counterfeit drugs and fake pills contaminated with lethal doses of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, have flooded the market, contributing to the opioid epidemic. Opioid-related deaths per year increased from 8,048 in 1999 to 80,411 in 2021--more than ten times higher! Synthetic opioids (primarily fentanyl) are the main causes of overdose deaths.
Operation Prevention
The DEA has joined forces with Discovery Education to provide no-cost online tools that support every member of the community with the power of prevention. Help kickstart life-saving conversations today with standards-aligned English & Spanish-language resources for students in grades 3-12, plus additional resources designed for educators, families, and professionals.
Download the Operation Prevention Toolkit and vist the Operation Prevention Channel on DiscoveryEducation.com for helpful background information, statistics, and tips for talking with your student about the dangers of synthetic drugs.