TEACHING TO HOPE

    Langford Area School is taking proactive steps to address the nationwide drug overdose crisis by introducing a powerful new tool in the classroom: the Emily’s Hope prevention education curriculum. Spearheaded by school counselor Megan Lynde, the program is now being taught to students from kindergarten through seventh grade, aiming to empower children with knowledge and healthy decision-making skills.
    Across the United States, the scale of drug overdose deaths is staggering. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 87,567 people died from drug overdoses last year—an average of 240 lives lost each day. And while substance use is often associated with large cities, rural Americans are now at even greater risk of overdose than those living in urban areas. Recognizing this alarming trend, Langford Area is among a growing number of schools working to educate students early and often.
    The Emily’s Hope curriculum is part of a larger mission launched by journalist and advocate Angela Kennecke. After the heartbreaking loss of her daughter, Emily, to fentanyl poisoning in 2018, Kennecke founded the nonprofit Emily’s Hope to remove the stigma around addiction and support families affected by substance use disorder. The nonprofit now develops K–12 educational programming designed to prevent addiction before it starts.
    Langford Area counselor Megan Lynde was first introduced to the curriculum during a training session and immediately saw its potential. “Students learn about making good choices, and as they get older, they learn about reasons to say no to substances and what they have to lose,” Lynde explained. The curriculum is thoughtfully adapted to each grade level. Younger students begin with simple health-focused lessons, while older grades explore topics like brain function, peer pressure, and the dangers of substances like tobacco and vaping. One standout moment in third grade includes students crafting “brain hats” to learn about how the brain guides decision-making.
    Lynde is also piloting the new sixth and seventh grade modules this year, after another school stepped away from the pilot program. She jumped at the chance to bring the expanded content to Langford. “These days, most students will encounter substances. Vaping is on the rise as well,” Lynde said. “This curriculum gives them tools to face those situations with confidence.”
    The early data behind Emily’s Hope is promising. During a 2022–23 pilot in nine South Dakota and Minnesota schools, students showed a 21 percentage point improvement in assessment scores. The most notable gains included a 44.8% increase in understanding the “PTA” (Pause. Think. Act.) decision-making tool and a 43.8% boost in recognizing the brain’s role in releasing feel-good chemicals.
    For Lynde and the team at Langford Area, the work is just beginning. “I hope to continue this curriculum in the future,” she said. “It’s one of the tools we can use to help our students lead healthier, happier lives.”