New Student Drug Prevention Program Debuts In Indiana Counties

The organization Overdose Lifeline has been providing the overdose antidote naloxone to Hoosier law enforcement agencies and advocates.  Now the group plans to deliver a new drug prevention program to students in Indiana, the first time it will be used in the US.  As Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Lindsey Wright reports, Grant County is one of the first to try the program.

This week Overdose Lifeline is training to be able to implement a preventative intervention program known as Preventure, at schools around the state.

The evidence based program screens adolescents for personality traits, which can indicate higher risk for substance abuse or a mental disorder. Kids are then placed into five categories and invited to participate in discussion groups.

Preventure was developed in Montreal, and has proven successful in Canada and other places around the world.

Overdose Lifeline Founder Justin Phillips says she’s optimistic about the program coming to Indiana.

“It’s based on personality traits and we’re giving kids coping skills, and we could all use a better way of coping with anxiety no matter who we are and what we’re doing.”

Phillips says the group will start by piloting Preventure at schools in seven counties, including Pulaski, Starke, LaPorte, Howard, Grant, Jennings, and Jackson. If it’s successful, the goal is to expand to more schools.