Kentucky’s middle and high schools would be required to offer drug prevention instruction with an emphasis on opioid abuse under a bill moving through the state House.
The measure won unanimous support Tuesday from the House Education Committee.
Louisville Representative Joni Jenkins says schools would have flexibility on how to incorporate the training.
“I think we’ve done a lot in the general assembly addressing the problem of substance abuse,” Jenkins said. “We’ve focused on treatment, law enforcement, and corrections. But I think we need to start working on prevention.”
Jenkins says such heroin related prevention could be incorporated into various classes including physical education or social studies.
Committee member Addia Wuchner voted for the measure.
“We keep talking about addressing the problem of addiction, but we’ve got to get ahead of it and we’re also working on another piece of legislation that goes right in that prevention,” Wuchner said. ”It’s the other end of the spectrum. It’s the beginning before you start because Kentuckians have an addiction to opioids.”
Kentucky Association of School Superintendents Director Tom Shelton says his organization supports the bill, but he hopes the measure does more than add on another requirement.
“Looking at what is working and is efficient and effective in our school districts and trying to make sure that that’s happening consistently and systematically across the state and not just add on more requirements but actually make sure we’re being effective in what we do,” Shelton said.
