(Feb. 9, 2017) Worcester County schools announced the addition of a new anti-heroin pilot program for eighth-graders at Stephen Decatur Middle School, a move designed to combat a nationwide increase in illegal drug use and overdoses.
The opioid lesson plan is one small piece in a larger plan to bridge the gap in health education between middle and high schools, according to district Coordinator of Instruction Tamara Mills.
“The specific unit on heroin came about because of [the] opioid epidemic we are seeing across the country, our state and our county,” Mills said. “If we can change and improve children’s behaviors early on, we can all hopefully reap the benefits of that in future generations.”
This year, the middle school has partnered with Atlantic General Hospital to continue the health-literacy program that educates students on making healthy lifestyle choices. The program started in 2013 in Ocean City Elementary, and then expanded to lower grade levels.
Decatur seventh and eighth-graders are currently trying out the program, which should rollout to other middle schools in fall 2018.
State law requires a health-education component in every year of a child’s education, from Pre-kindergarten to ninth grade. Mills said Worcester students would have health lessons blended with reading, math, science or social studies classes, from first grade through eighth grade. An example of such lessons could have students calculate proper medication dosages depending on their weight in math classes.
All students receive health education in tandem with gym classes before they enter high school. The health curriculum also adjusts depending on the school or grade level, Mills said.
“Pre-K, second, fourth and sixth-grade students participate in D.A.R.E.,” she said, referencing the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program. The district’s program is run through the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office and is directed by Cpl. Matt Crisafulli. “[It teaches] students decision-making, making for safe and healthy living. Berlin Intermediate is also fortunate enough to have a certified health teacher for grades four through six.”
Once students reach middle school, the lessons become more focused on practical application. Classes at this stage were called “Family and Consumer Sciences,” which partially discuss the repercussions of drug use as well as other topics. That course has recently switched focus toward practical uses.
“Due to an increase of adolescents engaging in risky behaviors across the country, as well as locally, we have transformed our Family and Consumer Sciences classes into HealthFACS. This course is a hybrid of [Family and Consumer Sciences] curriculum and valuable health lessons [in] social and emotional development, substance abuse and nutrition,” Mills said.
Reaching high school, ninth graders receive a comprehensive health program that tackles substance abuse and other topics including family life, mental growth and injury prevention. The high school program also includes health skills activities, where students can apply their knowledge with real-world applications.
Outside the classroom, district officials like Dr. Aaron Dale also participate in larger dialogues on heroin through the State’s Attorney’s opioid task force. Dale, the supervisor of student services, said one of his goals is to include any stakeholders in prevention tactics.
“Worcester Warriors [an anti-opiate group] meets at Stephen Decatur High School, Daniel Freeman [Stand Fast Recovery organizer] has spoken to our nurses. One thing we are doing is hosting speakers at the high schools. It’s much more effective because students react differently to the information,” he said.
Dale said one of the challenges of addressing drug prevention from an education standpoint is staying on top of up-to-date information.
“We’re constantly updating our curriculum. It’s a living document with state and federal laws and taking feedback from students and teachers.”
From a teaching standpoint, Mills said that the current economic climate has hindered health-education overall. The district would ideally hire four additional health teachers, but that is not feasible under existing budgetary constraints.
While public support for drug prevention programs has had a direct impact in schools – as evidenced by the eighth-grade heroin lesson plan – the entire community needs to rally around its youth, Mills said.
“When speaking to Worcester County law enforcement officials about heroin issues, it was noted that none of the overdoses or deaths in recent years has included a school-age youth,” she said. “While we will continue to educate our students in the most comprehensive way and continue to implement preventative health education, we as a community need to look at what is occurring after a student graduates high school.”
The opioid lesson plan is one small piece in a larger plan to bridge the gap in health education between middle and high schools, according to district Coordinator of Instruction Tamara Mills.
“The specific unit on heroin came about because of [the] opioid epidemic we are seeing across the country, our state and our county,” Mills said. “If we can change and improve children’s behaviors early on, we can all hopefully reap the benefits of that in future generations.”
This year, the middle school has partnered with Atlantic General Hospital to continue the health-literacy program that educates students on making healthy lifestyle choices. The program started in 2013 in Ocean City Elementary, and then expanded to lower grade levels.
Decatur seventh and eighth-graders are currently trying out the program, which should rollout to other middle schools in fall 2018.
State law requires a health-education component in every year of a child’s education, from Pre-kindergarten to ninth grade. Mills said Worcester students would have health lessons blended with reading, math, science or social studies classes, from first grade through eighth grade. An example of such lessons could have students calculate proper medication dosages depending on their weight in math classes.
All students receive health education in tandem with gym classes before they enter high school. The health curriculum also adjusts depending on the school or grade level, Mills said.
“Pre-K, second, fourth and sixth-grade students participate in D.A.R.E.,” she said, referencing the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program. The district’s program is run through the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office and is directed by Cpl. Matt Crisafulli. “[It teaches] students decision-making, making for safe and healthy living. Berlin Intermediate is also fortunate enough to have a certified health teacher for grades four through six.”
Once students reach middle school, the lessons become more focused on practical application. Classes at this stage were called “Family and Consumer Sciences,” which partially discuss the repercussions of drug use as well as other topics. That course has recently switched focus toward practical uses.
“Due to an increase of adolescents engaging in risky behaviors across the country, as well as locally, we have transformed our Family and Consumer Sciences classes into HealthFACS. This course is a hybrid of [Family and Consumer Sciences] curriculum and valuable health lessons [in] social and emotional development, substance abuse and nutrition,” Mills said.
Reaching high school, ninth graders receive a comprehensive health program that tackles substance abuse and other topics including family life, mental growth and injury prevention. The high school program also includes health skills activities, where students can apply their knowledge with real-world applications.
Outside the classroom, district officials like Dr. Aaron Dale also participate in larger dialogues on heroin through the State’s Attorney’s opioid task force. Dale, the supervisor of student services, said one of his goals is to include any stakeholders in prevention tactics.
“Worcester Warriors [an anti-opiate group] meets at Stephen Decatur High School, Daniel Freeman [Stand Fast Recovery organizer] has spoken to our nurses. One thing we are doing is hosting speakers at the high schools. It’s much more effective because students react differently to the information,” he said.
Dale said one of the challenges of addressing drug prevention from an education standpoint is staying on top of up-to-date information.
“We’re constantly updating our curriculum. It’s a living document with state and federal laws and taking feedback from students and teachers.”
From a teaching standpoint, Mills said that the current economic climate has hindered health-education overall. The district would ideally hire four additional health teachers, but that is not feasible under existing budgetary constraints.
While public support for drug prevention programs has had a direct impact in schools – as evidenced by the eighth-grade heroin lesson plan – the entire community needs to rally around its youth, Mills said.
“When speaking to Worcester County law enforcement officials about heroin issues, it was noted that none of the overdoses or deaths in recent years has included a school-age youth,” she said. “While we will continue to educate our students in the most comprehensive way and continue to implement preventative health education, we as a community need to look at what is occurring after a student graduates high school.”