Pens OPED on National Network Convening Educators, Policy Makers, Industry Leaders, and Community Leaders Committed to Combating Prescription Drug Abuse Through Prevention Education


Washington, D.C. -  EVERFI, Inc., the nation’s leading prevention education innovator used in 1 in 7 schools nationwide, responded to the announcement from the Trump Administration today officially declaring a public health emergency on opioids by stressing PSA's and addiction recovery treatment are not enough to turn the tide on drug use. Effectively tackling drug abuse is done by coupling awareness with measurable prevention education.


In an OPED penned in Edsurge this week, EVERFI calls for a focus on responding to the opioid crisis through prevention education saying...


"In the case of opioids, prevention starts with educating at-risk individuals about the dangers and effects of misuse and abuse. This epidemic has infiltrated all demographics, but young people have become particularly vulnerable. The National Institute of Health’s  Institute on Drug Abuse reports that nonmedical use of prescription drugs is highest among young adults aged 18 to 25. We need to reach them before the misuse and abuse happens.....

Many of us remember the slogan that hit the airwaves in the 80’s from first Lady Reagan telling students to “Just Say No” to drugs. Public service announcements have been the traditional approach to educating youth on public health issues. These PSAs can provide broad reach to help raise awareness, but imagine if these were directly coupled with a tangible, measurable education program that actively engages students in learning about these critical topics...Only together can we mitigate this national epidemic and save lives."


EVERFI’s Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention course released this fall.

 

About EVERFI and the Prevention Drug Safety Network
The Prescription Drug Safety Network is a national coalition of partners committed to using proven and innovative digital prevention education to empower Americans with the skills to make safe and healthy decisions about prescription drugs use for themselves, their families, and their communities. Learn more about The Prescription Drug Safety Network  here.

EVERFI, Inc. is the leading education technology company that provides learners of all ages education for the real world, through innovative and scalable digital learning. Founded in 2008, EVERFI has certified over 16 million learners in critical skill areas with more than 4,300 partners in all 50 U.S. States and Canada. EVERFI is an industry convener that builds Networks to tackle the toughest social issues, including the Prevention Drug Safety Network, the Campus Prevention Network, a coalition of higher education institutions committed to campus sexual assault and alcohol abuse prevention; and the Financial Capability Network, a coalition of industry leaders dedicated to improving financial outcomes for communities across the country. Some of America’s leading CEOs and venture capital firms are EVERFI investors including Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, Google Chairman Eric Schmidt, Twitter founder Evan Williams, TPG Growth, and The Rise Fund.  



Media Contact:

Monique Waters
Senior Director of Corporate Communications
mwaters@everfi.com
301-233-4241