Licking Heights Local Schools is committed to providing students with the knowledge and skills necessary to make healthy decisions and avoid the use of nicotine, vaping products, alcohol, and other drugs. Through a comprehensive prevention and intervention approach, students receive age-appropriate instruction designed to promote healthy choices, strengthen social-emotional skills, and reduce risk factors associated with substance use.

Licking Heights partners with Pathways of Central Ohio to provide evidence-based prevention education through the Too Good for Drugs curriculum for students in grades 4–6. This nationally recognized program helps students develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to make healthy decisions, resist peer pressure, and avoid substance use. Lessons integrate prevention education with social-emotional learning, focusing on goal setting, decision-making, communication, emotional regulation, and positive peer relationships.

Fourth-grade students learn foundational prevention skills through lessons that emphasize setting and achieving personal goals, identifying positive role models and supportive relationships, effective communication and conflict resolution, recognizing and resisting peer pressure, understanding the harmful effects of nicotine and tobacco products, and making healthy choices in challenging situations.

Fifth-grade lessons expand students' understanding of substance-use prevention while strengthening social-emotional competencies. Topics include goal setting and future planning, responsible decision-making, managing emotions in healthy ways, effective communication and relationship skills, the effects of nicotine, vaping products, alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs, safe use of prescription and over-the-counter medications, and strategies for resisting peer pressure and making healthy choices.

Sixth-grade students deepen their prevention knowledge and strengthen skills needed to navigate increasing social pressures. Key areas of focus include advanced goal setting and decision-making, building positive peer relationships, managing emotions and stress, understanding peer and media influences, developing refusal and self-advocacy skills, understanding addiction and the consequences of substance use, and education on nicotine, vaping products, alcohol, marijuana, prescription medications, opioids, and other drugs.

In grades 7 and 8, Too Good for Drugs is delivered collaboratively by the building School Social Worker and School Counseling Team. The curriculum addresses the unique challenges students face during adolescence while continuing to build prevention and social-emotional learning skills.

Lessons focus on developing self-awareness and personal responsibility, strengthening decision-making and problem-solving skills, building healthy peer relationships and recognizing negative influences, managing stress, anxiety, and strong emotions in healthy ways, identifying and responding to peer pressure related to vaping, nicotine, alcohol, marijuana, and other substances, understanding the short- and long-term effects of substance use on physical health, mental health, and academic performance, examining media and social media influences on substance use, practicing refusal, assertiveness, and advocacy skills, and setting personal goals aligned with future aspirations.

Through interactive discussions, real-life scenarios, and skill-building activities, students develop the confidence and resilience needed to make healthy, substance-free choices.

At the high school level, targeted drug, alcohol, and nicotine education is provided to students who have been found in possession of or using these substances in violation of the Student Code of Conduct. These educational interventions are designed to increase awareness of the risks associated with substance use while helping students make healthier choices moving forward.

Programming focuses on understanding the health, academic, legal, and social consequences of substance use; examining the effects of nicotine, vaping products, alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs on the developing brain and body; identifying personal risk factors and triggers that may contribute to substance use; developing healthy coping strategies for managing stress, peer pressure, and other challenges; building decision-making and refusal skills; and connecting students with supportive school and community resources when appropriate.

Through education, reflection, and skill development, these interventions promote accountability, encourage positive behavioral change, and support student well-being and success.

Licking Heights values the partnership between schools and families in supporting student health and well-being. Parents and guardians have the right to review instructional materials used in substance use prevention education programs.

Parents and guardians who wish to review curriculum materials may contact their child's school principal or counselor for information regarding curriculum access and review procedures. Curriculum materials are available for parent and guardian review upon request.

In accordance with Ohio law and district policy, parents and guardians may request that their child be excused from participating in substance use prevention instruction. Requests to opt out of programming should be submitted in writing to the building principal. Alternative educational activities will be provided as appropriate.

For additional information regarding substance use prevention programming, curriculum review, or opt-out procedures, please contact:

Licking Heights Local Schools is committed to partnering with families and community organizations to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and support necessary to make healthy choices and lead substance-free lives. Through prevention education, intervention programming, and family engagement, we strive to create safe, supportive learning environments where all students can thrive.