Clark County Schools are taking new measures to discourage drug use among students, and they’re starting young.

A new program called “Too Good For Drugs” launched this school year and aims to explore with fourth- through eighth-grade students why they should avoid drugs, violence, alcohol and tobacco.

According to an article from reporter Lashana Harney, which can be found on page A1 of today’s paper, Too Good for Drugs is designed to promote life skills, character values, resistance skills to negative peer influence, and resistance to the use of illegal drugs, alcohol and tobacco.

“The program, which targets elementary and middle school students, is based on classroom discussions and structured activities that center on interactive learning and skill-building exercises,” Harney reported.  “Students engage in role-playing and cooperative learning games and are encouraged to apply the skills to different contexts. The program consists of 10 lessons at each grade level lasting 30–45 minutes per lesson. All lessons are scripted and intended to be taught by trained teachers or program instructors. Lessons include information about the frequency of drug use among American youth and the harmful effects of drug use. The lessons also cover mental health.”

Research shows programs like this work, and they are needed.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

— Alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco are substances most commonly used by adolescents.

— By 12th grade, about two-thirds of students have tried alcohol. By eighth grade, 28% of students have tried alcohol, and 12% have been drunk at least once; by twelfth grade, 68% of students have tried alcohol, and more than half have been drunk at least once

— About half of 9th through 12th grade students reported ever having used marijuana. In 2012, 45% of students in grades 9 through 12 reported ever having used marijuana, and 24% reported having used marijuana in the preceding 30 days. Between 2008 and 2012, the proportion of teens who used marijuana daily increased from 5% to 8%

— About 4 in 10 9th through 12th grade students reported having tried cigarettes. According to a survey published in 2014, 41% of students in grades 9 through 12 reported having tried cigarettes. Nearly one-quarter said they had used tobacco in some form in the past 30 days

— Among 12th graders, close to 2 in 10 reported using prescription medicine without a prescription. Adolescents who misuse prescription opioids are at high risk of transitioning to injection drugs and overdosing.

“Schools are appropriate settings for drug prevention programs for 3 reasons,” according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. “Prevention must focus on children before their beliefs and expectations about substance abuse are established; schools offer the most systematic way of reaching young people; and schools can promote a broad spectrum of drug-related educational policies.”

Any level of substance use can be harmful for adolescents — no amount is safe. It is important to reduce substance abuse among adolescents for a variety of reasons.

Substance abuse leads to other risky behaviors like drinking and driving, having unprotected sex and more.

The still developing adolescent brain is also more vulnerable to substances and their short- and long-term effects.

According to the CDC, “Adolescence — which extends from the ninth year of life into the third decade — is a long period of intense neurodevelopmental growth and maturation. As a result, the adolescent brain is particularly vulnerable to the toxic effects of alcohol and other drugs and to the potential for addiction. Persistent marijuana use in adolescence, for example, is associated with neuropsychological impairments across a range of functional domains. Moreover, stopping use does not fully restore neuropsychological functioning, suggesting particular harm for the adolescent brain.”

Of course, reducing substance abuse in the early years of life will also help reduce substance abuse in adulthood.

Our community and our students are not immune to the issues of drug, alcohol and tobacco use. Many parents have a “Not my child” mentality. They know young people turn to drugs and alcohol, but don’t believe their child could ever be negatively impacted in such a way.

Unfortunately, though, addiction does not discriminate. Young people from every race, religion and socio-economic background have been impacted by addiction and substance abuse issues. No group is immune.

That is why it is critical we start educating our students as young as possible about these dangers, and we be realistic with them about what is happening in the world. They need to know the real dangers of addiction and all the other repercussions — potential jail time, overdoses, unplanned pregnancies, poverty, etc. — that come along with drug use.

Our children spend a large chunk of their time in our schools, which makes them the most ideal place to integrate programs like this.

But, the role of schools should not outweigh the impact parents and family can also have on our young people.

If they are learning about the dangers of substance abuse from multiple places, perhaps they will be less likely to use drugs or alcohol in the future.

By starting education programs young, we could help reduce the trend of the drug epidemic in our community and our country.

Editorials represent the opinion of the newspaper’s editorial board. The board is comprised of publisher Michael Caldwell and Bluegrass Newsmedia editors Whitney Leggett and Ben Kleppinger. To inquire about a meeting with the board, contact Caldwell at 759-0095.