The Akron Legal News

Committee formed to study drug use prevention education in Ohio schools

KEITH ARNOLD
Special to the Legal News
Published: August 19, 2016

The state’s top law enforcement officer recently joined the leadership of both houses of the Ohio Legislature to launch an extensive review of the state’s drug-use prevention education programs in light of the heroin epidemic ravaging so many Ohio communities.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, Senate President Keith Faber, R-Celina, and House Speaker Clifford Rosenberger, R-Clarksville, announced formation of the Ohio Joint Study Committee on Drug Use Prevention Education, which is expected to examine the status of the state’s drug education programs and issue recommendations for implementation of age-appropriate drug education in schools across all grade levels.

“Ohio is facing the worst drug epidemic that I’ve seen in my lifetime,” DeWine said in a press statement. “We need to change how we think about drugs and talk about drugs, and we need to start this culture change with Ohio’s children.

“Through the work of this committee, we hope to identify strategies that schools can use to provide comprehensive, age-appropriate drug use prevention education across all grade levels to help prevent future addiction.”

The committee, composed of legislators, agency administrators and representatives of other affected groups, is expected to hold multiple meetings across the state to find out what types of drug prevention education schools are currently providing, what schools need to help expand their drug prevention education efforts, and how to best provide this education across all grade levels.

Committee members include Sens. John Eklund, R-Munson Township, Joe Uecker, R-Miami Township, and Kenny Yuko, D-Richmond Heights; Reps. Robert Sprague, R-Findlay, Terry Johnson, R-McDermott, and Heather Bishoff, D-Blacklick; Ohio State Board of Education President Tom Gunlock; Ohio Department of Education Senior Policy Advisor Sarah Wickham; Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities Executive Director Cheri Walter; Start Talking! Director Sarah Smith; Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services Prevention Bureau Chief Molly Stone; Kevin Lorson of Ohio Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance; and Drug Free Action Alliance Executive Director Marcie Seidel.

Central Ohio area committee members include:

• Betsy Walker, director of community relations for Cardinal Health;

• Westerville Police Chief Joe Morbitzer; and

• Neil Gupta, director of secondary education at Worthington City Schools.

“As a state we’ve made great strides in raising awareness about the opioid epidemic and making life-saving treatment more readily available, but we still have work to do,” Faber said at the announcement. “I look forward to working with Attorney General DeWine and other members of this committee to bring the fight against opioid abuse into the classroom so our children can grow up in a healthy, drug-free environment.”

“Tackling the state’s opioid abuse epidemic from all sides is crucial to stemming addiction and saving lives,” Rosenberger added.

At the conclusion of the committee’s study, a report outlining the group’s findings and recommendations is expected to be issued.

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