Substance Use Education
Substance Use Education
The Department of Substance Abuse, Addiction, and Opioid Dependency delivers comprehensive, curriculum-driven, and innovative prevention programming to Ocean County youth grades 2 through 12.
Our three evidence-based programs, Footprints for Life (grades 2 and 3), Unique You (grades 3 and 4), and We’re Not Buying It 2.0 (grade 6) focus on the development of necessary assets to deter the first use of alcohol and other drugs. The key competencies touched upon include, but are not limited to: communication, conflict resolution, decision-making, peer pressure, expression of feelings, media literacy, and self-confidence.
Our innovative programs are designed to fit the needs of our community. Programs of a specific topic can also be created and facilitated upon request. Programs can be delivered in a single classroom setting or auditorium-style. The primary goal of our prevention programming is to instill a firm sense of self-esteem and awareness in youth that can guide them through their lives and help them make positive choices.
Our complete list of prevention programs includes:
- Footprints for Life* (grades 2/3)
- Medicine is not Candy (grades 2/3)
- Only One You (grade 3)
- Unique You* (grades 3/4)
- Power to be Drug Free (grades 4/5)
- We’re Not Buying It 2.0 (grade 6)
- #DrugCode (grades 7-12)
- Escaping Vaping (grades 7-12)
- Oh! The Places You’ll Go (grades 10-12)
*evidence-based program