Time to act
Save a generation from opioids
The prescription drug abuse epidemic is destroying lives— urban, rural, rich, poor, young, old—from coast to coast. It is something I have heard routinely across the state as I have held Rutledge Roundtables in all of Arkansas’ 75 counties for the third consecutive year. As part of National Red Ribbon Week, it is time that we as a state commit to taking action to save a generation.
Recently, I announced the launch of Prescription for Life, a first-of-itskind in the nation curriculum for high school students to help them understand the dangers of prescription drug misuse and how to prevent abuse. As an extension of Prescription for Life, educators from the attorney general’s office will conduct parent and teacher training sessions in person and through webcasts on how to talk to young people about the risks.
According to a recent New York Times investigation, in 2016, more than 236 million prescriptions were written for opioids in the United States—that’s about one bottle of opioids for every American adult. The investigation also found that more than 59,000 Americans died in 2016 of drug overdoses, in the largest annual jump in such deaths ever recorded in the United States. Shockingly, the study concluded that about as many Americans are expected to die this year of drug overdoses as died in the Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan wars combined.
The only way to begin curbing this epidemic is to start having these difficult but important conversations with teenagers. Arkansas ranks first in the nation for ages 12 to 17 in misuse of painkillers. Think about that. A state that ranks 32nd in total population ranks first among high school age for the misuse of pain killers. The time to act to reverse this trend is now.
Prescription for Life is available to every high school student in Arkansas and comes at no cost to participating schools. This digital course will empower high school students with the skills and knowledge they need to make safe and healthy decisions about prescription drugs, using an evidence-based public health approach. The course is aligned to the Centers for Disease Control’s National Health Education Standards and state academic standards.
The self-paced modular course uses video, animations, simulations and interactivity to deliver a personalized self-guided learning experience. The real-life simulations demonstrate the impact misuse can have on students’ physical and mental health, relationships and future goals, while the scenario-based exercises will help students practice how to support other students in their choices regarding the safe use of prescription drugs. Educator training sessions will be hosted to ensure effective classroom integration, and pre- and post-assessments will be used to measure changes in students’ attitudes and behavior.
Not only is this bold program supported by the Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, the Arkansas surgeon general and the Arkansas Department of Education, but Prescription for Life has the support of numerous Arkansas families I have come to know who have lost loved ones to prescription drugs or have been deeply affected by this national epidemic. They have told me countless times that they support this initiative because they do not want any more families to suffer the same heartache they have endured.
This new curriculum is just one part of a multi-pronged robust approach. Through a partnership with the attorney general’s office, the FBI and the DEA, screenings of the film Chasing the Dragon took place at participating high schools and local theaters across Arkansas on Wednesday. Chasing the Dragon is a powerful documentary that exposes the truth behind the opiate epidemic and provides a glimpse into the horrifying reality of addiction.
Additionally, I am doing all I can to promote and encourage Arkansans to participate in the semi-annual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day to be held in communities across Arkansas on Saturday. Since the program began, more than 72 tons of medication have been collected in Arkansas, which is an estimated 201 million individual pills. Drug take-back boxes are also included in the attorney general’s mobile offices, held in all 75 counties each year, through partnerships with local law enforcement.
My office also hosts the Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Summit, which will be held this year on Nov. 9 in Hot Springs. This is a free training and educational opportunity for law enforcement officers, medical professionals, pharmacists and educators. A record number of over 1,000 have already registered for this event.
During Red Ribbon Week, I hope all Arkansans will commit to being drug-free, but let’s also commit to taking action. The time is now. As a state, we must act to protect the next generation from this crisis.