K-12 Substance Use Prevention and Intervention
Oregon school districts provide comprehensive substance use prevention and intervention services to K-12 students which include:
Evidence-informed prevention education for K-12 students, including opioid prevention instruction
Fear and shame-free communication with students and families
Harm reduction, intervention, and referral processes to support individuals impacted by substance use
Professional development, training and support for school staff
This website provides information on requirements, best practices, and other tools that school districts, communities, and others can use in planning for and implementing comprehensive substance use prevention and intervention services. For specific information on what materials or practices local school districts may be using, please contact the individual districts directly.
ODE provides direct support for all 197 school districts and community members who support K-12 Comprehensive Substance Use Prevention and Intervention in Oregon, including:
Meeting or presentation about K-12 Comprehensive Substance Use Prevention and Intervention implementation for school board, school district, or community.
Subscribe to ODE’s Health Ed List Serv for updates on resources and support for districts.
The following Oregon and ODE laws, rules, and policies relate to K-12 comprehensive substance use prevention and intervention:
Requires a comprehensive plan for substance use prevention and intervention. Includes K-12 substance use prevention education that meets the Health Education Standards; requires a minimum of 1 ODE Opioid Prevention Education lesson in grades 6, 7, and 8 and once in High School. The intervention plan must include: school policies and procedures on substance use; resources and referral processes; and training and procedures for staff.
Outlines requirements for medication administration in the school setting, including non-injectable, short-acting opioid antagonists (naloxone).
Provides legal protection for individuals who render emergency medical assistance to another person, including administration of naloxone.
Requires Oregon School Districts to develop comprehensive district Student Suicide Prevention Plans.
Outlines requirements of Oregon School Districts related to discipline, suspension, and expulsion.
Protects students against discrimination, and identifies sex and sexual orientation as protected classes (as well as race, color, religion, national origin, marital status, age or disability).
Youth e-cigarette use continues to be a public health concern in the United States. Data from the 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey shows that 1.6 million middle and high schools students reported using e-cigarettes. Join Truth Initiative and the Oregon Department of Education on the topic of teen vaping. Educators will leave this session armed with actionable strategies to create opportunities for impactful conversations about the dangers of vaping and the addictive powers of nicotine.
In-Person Professional Development: Substance Use Prevention in K-12 Classrooms
In-person trainings for elementary and secondary educators and administrators to support implementation of K-`12 opioid prevention lessons. If you would like to host a Substance Use Prevention and Intervention professional learning session at your district or ESD, please fill out this
interest form.
Wednesday, May 7th from 3:30-4:30 PT : National & Oregon-Specific Background on Opioid Overdose Epidemic
Wednesday, May 14th from 3:30-4:30 PT : What Can You Do? School-Based Opioid Overdose-Prevention Discussion
Wednesday, May 21st from 3:30-4:30 PT : What’s Happening Now in Oregon? Current Landscape of Prevention and Treatment Resources
Wednesday, May 28th from 3:30-4:30 PT : What’s New in Oregon? School Lesson Planning, Public Information Campaigns, and Learning Opportunities
ODE will be offering drop-in office hours for school staff supporting student mental health and wellness. If you support students around substance use/substance prevention, Transformative Social and Emotional Learning (TSEL), suicide prevention, restorative practices, and workforce wellness, then these sessions are for you!
Oregon Resources
Federal Resources