COLUMBUS- A committee of experts, school leaders and lawmakers will study drug-use prevention education in Ohio schools with orders to report back in three months with suggestions for improving drug-prevention efforts.
The committee announced by Attorney General Mike DeWine and Statehouse leaders Thursday will also issue recommendations for putting age-appropriate drug education in schools in every grade.
“Tackling the state’s opioid abuse epidemic from all sides is crucial to stemming addiction and saving lives. Prevention is key, and this study committee will work to ensure that Ohio’s students are being educated early and properly so that they are aware of the dangers of drug abuse and addiction,” House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger (R-Clarksville) said.
The committee of more than 20 people including Republican and Democratic legislators, treatment providers, law enforcement officials and educators will hold meetings around the state to see what kind of education schools currently use and issue a list of recommendations.
“Ohio is facing the worst drug epidemic that I’ve seen in my lifetime,” DeWine said. “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.”
As the state’s addictions epidemic continues, Ohio troopers say they seized about seven times as much heroin during the first half of 2016 as they did during the same period last year.