The opioid and prescription drug problem in our nation, and particularly in Pennsylvania, has reached epidemic levels. In fact, in December 2016 the CDC reported “overdose deaths involving prescription opioids have quadrupled since 1999,” and that “over half of opioid overdose deaths have occurred due to prescription pain medications.”
Ian Magness, Superintendent, Freeport Area School District
As recently as June 8, 2017, the DEA released a media advisory of updated and disturbing data, particularly involving our young people, that concluded: “Younger Pennsylvanian’s were impacted significantly; individuals aged 15-24 had a 380 percent increase in their odds of a fentanyl-related death than other age groups.”
The prevention efforts in our schools across our two counties have included a multi-pronged approach that includes the infusion of opioid-specific curricula such as Discovery Education’s Operation Prevention — powerful presentations to our students by local law enforcement, recovering addicts and even family members who have lost loved ones to overdose. Our schools have been on the front lines of the prevention effort.
What’s concerning for our student-athletes, schools and parents are recent studies such as a 2015 study titled “Opioid Use Among Interscholastic Sports Participants: An Exploratory Study From A Sample Of College Students” by researchers at the University of Michigan and published by the Department of Health and Human Services. This study confirms that student-athletes are at higher risk than their peers that do not participate in athletics to experience a lifetime of opioid prescription use. The study concludes, “These findings further suggest that greater awareness should be instilled in parents and coaches regarding this form of substance misuse.”
Motivated by these and other findings, Freeport, along with other ARIN districts, has chosen to be a proactive participant toward increasing the awareness of our students and their families in an effort to prevent these realities locally. To this end, our schools have established partnerships, such as the one with UPMC, the Poison Control Center and the FBI to produce an educational video for student-athletes and their parents in an effort to educate our community on the dangers of opioid use and/or abuse, especially among student-athletes.
To be successful, this prevention effort must involve us all. The most effective and impactful prevention starts at home. Little things such as tracking and disposing of unused medications can go a long way toward preventing someone from becoming the next addict, or even the next death. We cannot wait for the call to action to come from government, religious groups, schools, health care or even celebrities. Our families and communities must rally to support each other if we hope to reverse this epidemic and the costly, deadly impact it is having on our nation.
