Substance Use Prevention
The Poe Center Substance Use Prevention programs are designed to be engaging, impactful and meet the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction education standards for each grade.
Explore our programs below and book a program today!
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It’s Up 2 U!
Schedule this program for: 3rd Grade, 4th Grade,
This program gives young students an important foundation about medicine safety and commonly misused substances such as tobacco. Participants will learn about how drugs affect our body, the difference between medicine use and substance misuse, who it's safe to get medications from, and other needed skills to help keep them healthy. Participants will identify how to refuse pressure from peers in risky situations as well as how to develop and access healthy support systems.
Program Length: 45 minutesMeets Essential Standards:- Grade 3: 3.ATOD.1, 1.2; 3.ATOD.2, 2.1
- Grade 4: 4.ATOD.3, 3.1, 3.2
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Choices & Consequences
Schedule this program for: 5th Grade,
Participants will learn the facts about inhalants, tobacco/e-cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana through an interactive classroom game modeled after a popular game show. Participants will learn valuable information about the effects of substance use on their growing brains and bodies with interactive activities, videos and group discussion. Participants will conclude the session with skill building activities focused on communication and refusal skills.
Program Length: 60 minutesMeets Essential Standards: -
Choices & Consequences: Family Edition
Schedule this program for: 5th Grade, Adults,
Parents/caregivers and children will learn the facts about alcohol, tobacco/e-cigarettes, marijuana and other drugs through an interactive game modeled after a popular game show. Families will work together to learn valuable information about the effects of these substances on the growing brain and body, as well as effective refusals skills to keep youth safe. The families will be engaged with interactive activities, videos and team discussions. All families will be provided with resources to encourage ongoing prevention skill building and communication.
Program Length: 90 minutesMeets Essential Standards: -
For the Health of It!
Schedule this program for: 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade,
Participants will discover how using alcohol, tobacco and other drugs can damage their growing brains and bodies. This class is centered around interactive activities that focus on “showing and not telling” kids how their brains are affected by substance use. Real life scenarios help students analyze how a brain impacted by substances affects their actions and decision making skills. Students will conclude the session with role-play activities focused on communication and refusal skills.
Program Length: 60 minutesMeets Essential Standards: -
Smart on Social
Schedule this program for: 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade, 9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade,
Teenagers live in a world of choices. Students will dig deeper into understanding online safety and why it is important to make good choices while using those platforms. This program empowers students by covering information about how to critically think when being influenced by the media, how social media affects your health and how to interpret real news and fake news. Participants will also receive internet safety tips to keep themselves and their families safe.
Program Length: 60 minutes -
Vaping 101
Schedule this program for: 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade, 9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade,
Vaping 101 educates participants on the latest research about the addictive nature of nicotine and how it impacts their growing brain and body. This program will cover important resources and skills to empower healthy decision making to navigate through substance use issues. Participants will be engaged in a group game format, videos and discussion.
Program Length: 60 minutesMeets Essential Standards:- Grade 6: 6.ATOD.1, 1.1, 1.2; 6.ATOD.2, 2.1; 6.ATOD.3, 3.1, 3.2
- Grade 7: 7.ATOD.1, 1.1, 1.4; 7.ATOD.2, 2.1, 2.2
- Grade 8: 8.ATOD.1, 1.1, 1.2; 8.ATOD.2; 8.ATOD.3, 3.2
- High School: 9.ATOD.1, 1.2, 1.5; 9.ATOD.2
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In the Know
Schedule this program for: 9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade,
Participants will receive the latest research about alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, as well as explore how substance use could impact their lives now and in the future. This program will cover important resources and decision-making skills to empower healthy choices that impact not only their developing brains and bodies but also their families, friends, and futures. In the Know is an interactive session engaging participants with group discussion, videos and activities.
Program Length: 60 minutesMeets Essential Standards:- High School: 9.ATOD.1, 1.2, 1.5; 9.ATOD.2
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The Science of Addiction
Schedule this program for: 10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade,
The Science of Addiction is designed for participants with an interest in health and science. The presentation addresses the body’s response when a psychoactive drug is introduced in the brain. At the end of the presentation, participants will be able to categorize drugs hallucinogens, stimulants, and depressants and explain the characteristics of each, identify the neurotransmitters impacted by the introduction of the psychoactive drugs and describe the symptoms of drug use based on the neurotransmitters involved. In addition, participants will understand the biological constructs of tolerance and withdrawal. The Science of Addiction is an interactive presentation involving discussion and interactive activities that reinforce healthy decision-making and refusal skills necessary for risky situations.
Program Length: 60 – 75 minutesMeets Essential Standards:- High School: 9.ATOD.1, 1.2, 1.5; 9.ATOD.2, 2.1, 2.2
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Understanding Opioids
Schedule this program for: 10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade,
Participants will learn the types and effects of opioids (prescription pain medicine and heroin) on the brain and body, how opioids affect brain chemistry, safe use of prescription medication, and how to recognize an emergency and intervene on the behalf of their peers as well as stress management as a prevention technique. Participants will be able to identify risk factors for substance use and learn important protective factors for preventing use. Understanding Opioids is an interactive program with discussion and activities to engage youth.
Program Length: 60 minutesMeets Essential Standards:- High School: 9.ATOD.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5; 9.ATOD.2, 2.1
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#YouthCulture
Schedule this program for: Adults,
This program also offers a youth component to each session. Ask us about this! This program empowers parents and other youth serving adults by taking a look at the world surrounding our youth and how it impacts their perceptions and behavior. This session examines consequences and health effects of substance use including the impact on adolescent brain development and the increased risk for addiction. This session includes information on internet safety, sexting, healthy relationships, risk factors, and protective factors. A discussion on strategies to increase protective factors and to support youth to make healthy decisions. Participants will be equipped with tools and resources to support ongoing conversations with youth.
Program Length Online: 75 minute workshop
Program Length In-Person: 2 hour workshop -
#YouthCulture: Adolescent Brain Development and Addiction
Schedule this program for: Adults,
This program examines consequences and health effects of substance use including the impact of adolescent brain development and the increased risk for addiction. This session includes the latest research, examines the risk factors for use, and the protective factors that help prevent youth substance use. A discussion on strategies to increase those protective factors and to support empowering youth to make healthy decisions will be covered. Participants will be equipped with tools and resources to support ongoing conversations.
Program Length Online: 75 minutes
Program Length In-Person: 90 minutes -
#YouthCulture: Adolescent Brain Development and the Role of Social Media
Schedule this program for: Adults,
This program examines the impact of social media on emotional, social and physical health. Participants will explore how adolescent brains process information and make decisions and how that impacts their online experience. This session includes the latest research, examines the risk factors and identifies the protective factors to reduce negative aspects online. A discussion on strategies to increase those protective factors and to support empowering youth to make healthy decisions will be covered. Participants will be equipped with tools and resources to support ongoing conversations.
Program Length Online: 75 minutes
Program Length In-Person: 90 minutes -
#YouthCulture: E-cigarettes 101
Schedule this program for: Adults,
This program addresses the growing concern of e-cigarette use among youth. Participants will explore consequences and health effects of e-cigarette use including its impact on adolescent brain development. This session includes the latest research, examines the risk factors for use, and the protective factors that help prevent use. A discussion on strategies to increase those protective factors and to support empowering youth to make healthy decisions will be covered. Participants will be equipped with tools and resources to support ongoing conversations.
Program Length Online: 75 minutes
Program Length In-Person: 90 minutes -
#YouthCulture: Healthy Teen Relationships
Schedule this program for: Adults,
This program dives into healthy teen relationships including dating relationships. The program examines adolescent brain development and decision-making along with exploring types of peer pressure and the influence on youth behaviors. This session includes the latest research on teen relationships including warning signs for dating violence, impacts of social media, and risk factors of adolescent substance use. Participants will gain tools and resources to support ongoing conversations with youth.
Program Length Online: 75 minutes
Program Length In-Person: 90 minutes -
#YouthCulture: Opioids 101
Schedule this program for: Adults,
This interactive session examines the prevalence and consequences of opioid use including prescription pain medicine and heroin in our communities. Session includes how to recognize the risk factors, youth perception of risk, scope of the opiate problem, signs and symptoms, and action steps to help protect your family and community. Participants will receive resources and tools to help guide conversations with youth and to support proper monitoring, securing, and disposing of medications.
Program Length Online: 75 minutes
Program Length In-Person: 90 minutes -
Drugs Uncovered: What Parents Need to Know
Schedule this program for: Adults,
Drugs Uncovered: What Parents Need to Know is an interactive program that targets parents of upper elementary, middle school and high school students. Drugs Uncovered introduces parents to the current trends regarding alcohol, tobacco and other drugs; health risks associated with adolescent use/abuse; the North Carolina alcohol laws and parental responsibility; and techniques for open communication and dialog with adolescents.
Program Length: 2 hour workshop and exhibit
