Activity Highlight
Date: February 14, 2025
Location: Belen, NM
Participants: High school students
Program: Completed the Safety First harm-reduction-based drug education curriculum
Assessment Tool: Utilized “exit tickets” to gauge student understanding and inform instruction
Key Insight: Students demonstrated a strong understanding of harm reduction strategies applicable in their daily lives
Overview
In early 2025, Infinity High School in Belen, New Mexico, successfully completed the Safety First curriculum, a harm-reduction-based drug education program developed by Stanford Medicine’s REACH Lab. This initiative was facilitated by the Opioid Remediation Collaborative (ORC) and engaged students in comprehensive lessons on substance use and prevention strategies.
To assess student understanding, “exit tickets” were employed at the end of each session. These brief, reflective prompts allowed students to articulate key takeaways and provided educators with insights to inform future instruction.
One notable prompt asked students: “What is a harm reduction strategy you can use at home or with your friends?” The responses demonstrated a strong grasp of harm reduction principles, with students suggesting strategies such as open communication, safe disposal of unused medications, and seeking help from trusted adults.
The successful implementation of the Safety First curriculum at Infinity High School underscores the importance of interactive and empathetic drug education in empowering youth to make informed decisions.
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