Schools
Georgia Perimeter College: Perimeter College, Newton High School Campaign Aimed At Stopping Opioid Abuse
The campaign was a collaboration between Georgia State University Perimeter College and honors students at the high school, and was supp ...
October 21, 2021
Media ContactRebecca Rakoczy
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Editorial and Production CoordinatorPublic Relations and Marketing Communications Perimeter College
678-891-2691rrakoczy@gsu.edu
Find out what's happening in Stone Mountain-Lithoniafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The campaign was a collaboration between Georgia State University Perimeter College and honors students at the high school, and was supported by statewide initiative called College-Adopt-A-School, funded through a $117, 500 grant from the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, the opioid authority in Georgia.
As part of the grant, Georgia State Newton Campus students mentored the high school students to develop a drug awareness program at the school. The program was aimed at making them more comfortable about talking about the dangers of opioid abuse.
Newton Campus instructors Dr. Tami Thomas, assistant professor of criminal justice and Mary Beth Davison, assistant professor of anatomy and physiology, guided the college students leading the effort. Opioids are synthetic or partially synthetic manufactured drugs that mimic the properties of opiates. In 2018, the Georgia Department of Public Health reported 1,043 deaths from opioids, including fentanyl and heroin.
The students did the work, led by Erica Mickens, Newton High School counselor.
“Faculty were supportive and encouraged the students to freely express their desire for a drug-free community,” said Davison who worked in a supervisory role during weekly meetings and the PSA videotaping sessions. “These students were committed to this project, always being on their best behavior and contributing with their hearts and minds,” she said. The student-produced PSAs were broadcast during morning announcements, viewable to both the on-campus and home school students during the spring 2021 semester. The community can view the PSAs at the #NOPIOIDS site through their Instagram account at https://www.instagram.com/nopioids.newton/
Read more about Georgia State’s collaboration with the high school.
This press release was produced by Georgia Perimeter College. The views expressed here are the author’s own.
