Valley View to Include Heroin Prevention in Health Curriculum

Through a coordinated effort with the Will County Executive’s Office, the Valley View School District will include heroin abuse prevention in its eighth grade health curriculum beginning in November.

The curriculum, developed by the Robert Crown Center for Health Education, is part of the Will County HELPS (Heroin Education Leads to Preventative Solutions) program led by Will County Executive Larry Walsh. Piloted in Joliet Township high schools and Troy middle schools in 2012 and 2013, organizers hope to eventually expand the program to all students in Will County.

“Robert Crown is a leader in health education and we are very proud to partner with them to bring this important education to our children,” said Walsh. “We began Will County HELPS in 2011 with the intent of raising awareness about the dangers of heroin and we feel we have been successful in our efforts.”

In 2013, Will County noted a significant decrease in the number of heroin overdose deaths to 35, down from 53 overdose deaths in 2012. This trend of decreasing heroin overdose deaths is continuing in 2014. To date the county has reported 25 overdose deaths. Will County officials credit this decrease to increased awareness through recent community forums, including several in VVSD, and the Robert Crown heroin prevention curriculum.

The Robert Crown Heroin Prevention Program is a web-based, interactive syllabus that employs social media to deliver its message. Through the program, students experience a young person’s journey from prescription drug abuse to heroin addiction and overdose.

Robert Crown and VVSD will host a presentation at 6:30 p.m. this Thursday at Bolingbrook High School, 365 Raider WAY, to detail the heroin issue and to discuss the new curriculum.