Dear Partners in Education,
Something that weighs heavy on my mind is the deadly fentanyl epidemic impacting our students and their families in San Diego County. I'm proud of the work the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) is doing to increase drug prevention and awareness efforts in our schools, including working with 55 schools and districts on the Naloxone Distribution Project, which places the overdose-reversing drug on school campuses.
We believe it's in the best interest of young people and their family members to be informed and have the tools they need to make the best choices for their own wellness.
It takes a collective partnership and a comprehensive approach that combines education, increased harm-reduction strategies, and mental health and well-being supports. For several years our organization has worked together with the San Diego District Attorney's Office and Drug Enforcement Administration San Diego Office to champion drug prevention and awareness programs in our schools.
This community collaboration is part of an ongoing effort to connect schools and districts to partners that can assist in prevention and intervention, including SDCOE-facilitated assemblies and classroom presentations around the dangers of fentanyl and other substances.
SDCOE's "I Choose My Future" presentation will soon be turned into a video series available to educators locally and around the country, and we will continue to do what it takes to prevent even one more family from experiencing a tragic loss due to opioid abuse.
Connect with SDCOE on social media @SanDiegoCOE to hear more about this work and the great things happening in classrooms across San Diego County.
Paul Gothold
San Diego County Superintendent of Schools
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