NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — A local nonprofit just announced it has received a $100,000 grant to help local high schools offer an online prescription drug safety course.
Niagara Falls City Schools Superintendent Mark Laurrie says that kind of help goes a long way.
"It's just another tool in our arsenal so to speak," Laurrie said.
Western New York United, a non-profit that works with local schools to keep kids away from drugs and alcohol, got the news about the grant on Thursday.
"That would be a wonderful opportunity, and we plan to become part of this opportunity. It's really never too early to start talking to kids about prescription drug use," Laurrie said.
In Niagara Falls, health class starts in fifth grade. The district also invites outside service providers in to teach students about the dangers of drug abuse.
"We're seeing more students report family members that are struggling with the prescription drug epidemic. It's certainly hit Niagara Falls. It's touched on our school district. It's touched graduates. We've had many stories where our graduates have come back and told stories about how they were impacted by prescription drugs and how to stay away from them," Laurrie said.
This online course covers topics such as the potential dangers of using opioids, stimulants, and depressants without a prescription and the proper way of disposing of prescription drugs.
"Kids need to hear things nowadays 10 times, 10 times, to make sure that the message resonates, and not only that, kids are very concerned about brothers, sisters, family members who may be in crisis with prescription drugs. So, this is going to be a good outlet for kids to either protect themselves, or to reach out in a way to protect their family members or close friends. So, it's an exciting opportunity," Laurrie says.
While we don't know which Western New York high schools will be part of this program just yet, we do know that Western New York United helps more than 10,000 students a year through its prevention education.