Prescription Drug Program Aims To Prevent Teen Misuse

Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill recommends more schools adopt a new drug abuse prevention program.                

Perry Meridian High School recently launched the program. Junior Sarah Burton says she valued the scenario simulation part of the course. 

"What you can do as even a bystander and what I can be doing?" says Burton. 

The Prescription Drug Safety Course is a digital program that teaches the science of addiction, prescription drug basics and how students can prevent misuse.

Hill attended an event at the school to promote the program, and says young people need more information. 

"We want to see what we can to provide information on a regular basis to young people to understand the dangers of drug activity and prescription drug abuse and find potential solutions," says Hill. 

Perry Meridian High School Principal Kert Boedicker says he recommends the online class. 

"What we've essentially done is we have extended our classroom walls and broken them down to help facilitate change with a societal epidemic that has swept not only our community but our state and our nation," says Boedicker. 

Hill says this program is necessary because nearly half of teens believe that prescription drugs are safer than illegal drugs.

The Indiana’s Attorney General’s office is partnering with program creator EverFi and Walmart to offer the course to more high schools free of charge.