PIKE COUNTY SCHOOLS
DRUG PREVENTION CURRICULUM
GRADES K-4 & 9-12
HERE’S LOOKING AT YOU CURRICULUM-GRADES K-4 AND 9-12 is a
research based curriculum designed to prevent substance abuse and change unhealthy
attitudes toward drugs and alcohol. It is the most widely used K-12 prevention program
in the United States. The curriculum presents a clear “no use” message, targets
“gateway” drugs, relates directly to young people’s real-life experiences, and
accommodates diversity (lessons have been tested and used successfully in schools with
students from a variety of backgrounds). The curriculum helps prevent substance abuse
by giving students the information they need to make healthy decisions, helping students
develop the skills they need in order to refuse drugs and alcohol and maintain healthy
relationships with peers and adults, also it focuses on the importance of bonding with
family, peers, and community as a means to coping with stress.
The curriculum is divided into separate kits for grades K-1, 2, 3, 4, and 9-12. Our
district utilized the k-1, 2, 3, 4, and 9-12 kits. Lessons correlate with the latest research
on when students are most likely to consider using drugs. Activities and information are
tailored to the prevention needs and cognitive development of each particular grade level.
Components of the curriculum include: changing the norms, social skills, and parent
involvement.
PIKE COUNTY SCHOOLS
DRUG PREVENTION CURRICULUM
GRADES 6-8
PROJECT NORTHLAND (grades 6-8) is a community-wide research program to
prevent your adolescent alcohol use. The project was designed to test the efficacy of
multilevel, multiyear intervention program for youth. The curriculum objectives are to
prevent or delay the onset of alcohol use among young adolescents, and to reduce use
among those already drinking. Pike County Schools implement this curriculum in
grades 6-8. The three-year intervention program includes planned parental
involvement, peer-led school-based programs and community-wide policy changes.
Parental involvement. The sixth grade intervention provides parents with skill to
establish policies around alcohol at home. The sixth grade program, Slick Tracy,
includes four activity books for students to complete with their parents, and a family
night at school. The major themes include facts and myths about adolescent alcohol use,
alcohol advertising, adult role models, friends and peer pressure, the consequences of
drinking, and setting up family guidelines.
Peer-led school-based programs. Two peer-led programs are implemented during the
seventh and eighth grades. Each program consists of eight 45-minute classroom sessions
primarily taught by elected and trained classroom peers. The seventh grade program,
Amazing Alternatives, focuses on skills training to remain a non-drinker. The eighth
grade program, Powerlines, extends these skills into the arena of drinking and driving.
Classroom teachers are trained to organize these sessions and to facilitate peer-group
discussions and role plays.
Community-wide policy changes. The Project Northland community-wide approach is
designed to engage networks of public and private organizations in coordinated activity
around adolescent alcohol use prevention. Community-wide task forces identify major
community problems around adolescent alcohol use, then develop and implement a
policy action plan.