North Penn To Host Narcotics Overdose Program

LANSDALE, PA -- During the week of February 22nd, the North Penn School District (NPSD) will be hosting a series of assemblies by the NOPE (Narcotics Overdose Prevention and Education) Task Force at secondary schools, the district announced in a press release Tuesday.

NOPE’s mission is to diminish the frequency and impact of overdose death through community education, family support and purposeful advocacy.

Since its inception, NOPE has been increasing awareness through multimedia and multimodal presentations.

NOPE Task Force was formed in 2004.

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 loved one 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.

There will also be a parent forum on Monday, February 22nd at 7:00 p.m. in the NPHS Auditorium, located at 1340 Valley Forge Road in Lansdale to discuss the NOPE Task Force program.

Parents who do not wish for their children to witness the NOPE Task Force presentation are directed to sign a document,which can be found here, and return to their child’s school. This will excuse their child from the presentation.