Did you know that between 2009 and 2013, there were 58 drug overdose deaths in Berks County? Or that one in five teens has abused prescription drugs?
NOPE (Narcotics Overdose Prevention and Education) Task Force of Chester County is providing an educational presentation on the dangers of substance abuse to high school students at Twin Valley High School on Monday, Nov. 3, from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
The cornerstone of NOPE’s mission is the personal, high impact presentation delivered to middle and high school students throughout the school year. This message is delivered graphically and emotionally from several perspectives.
First, from a professional who describes the interaction of drugs on the developing brain, then from a law enforcement official who has the grim task of making death notifications to distraught families and finally, from two family members who have suffered the loss of a child to a drug overdose.
The presentation is meant to evoke emotion, and demand the attention of the students. Throughout the presentation, real local stories of students who have lost their lives to drugs and alcohol are shared to illustrate the education points and show the reality of the consequences that drug and alcohol abuse can cause.
Following virtually every presentation, a number of students seek help, either for themselves, or someone they know.
NOPE Task Force is a non-profit 501c-3 organization; the Chester County chapter was formed in 2014. NOPE’s mission is to diminish the frequency and impact of overdose death through community education, family support and purposeful advocacy. Since its inception in Palm Beach County in 2004, NOPE has been increasing awareness through multi-media and multi-modal presentations.
For more information about NOPE Task Force of Chester County, contact Chelsey Price at: 484-444-0412 or by email chelsey,price@holcombbhs.org or visit www.nopetaskforce.org.
