Questions to prompt discussion with students:

Parents and Teachers: View the full VIP Facilitation Guide Here

Elementary School Students (dialogue starters):

Drug Safety Awareness

• What is fentanyl, and why is it dangerous? 

Trusted Sources

• Why is it safer to get medicine from a doctor or a licensed pharmacist rather than buying it from unknown sources?

Trusted Adults

• Who can you talk to if you have questions or concerns about medicine and its safety?

Middle School Students (dialogue starters):

Understanding Fentanyl

• Why is fentanyl so dangerous, and how is it being used in illegally sold drugs?

Risks of Counterfeit Medication

• What are the potential risks and consequences of taking medication that hasn't been prescribed by a doctor?

Peer Influence

• How can you resist peer pressure if friends offer you pills or drugs that are not prescribed for you?

High School Students (dialogue starters):

Fentanyl Crisis

• When you hear about people dying from fentanyl overdose, does it seem like something that could happen in your community?

Identifying Fake Medication

• If someone sold you pills, or you ordered pills online, how would you be able to identify counterfeit drugs versus the real thing?

Advocacy and Awareness

• How can students get involved in advocacy to combat the dangers of buying drugs online?

More resources for parents, students, & educators

• Drugs on Social Media: What Parents & Educators Need to Look Out For
• What is the Chroming Challenge: Understanding the Perils of Inhaling Toxic Chemicals
• TikTok Tranquilizer Challenge: What Parents & Educators Need to Know

Conclusion

Students are digital natives and between screen time at home and screen time at school, they often spend quite a bit of time online. Protecting kids online is more important today than ever before with the risk of online predators, online drug sales, and other dangerous situations that kids have the potential to be exposed to. The most important defense against these online risks is having an ongoing dialogue with students so they understand what red flags they should be looking out for and know what to do if they find themselves in an unsafe situation.