EVERFI Launches First-of-its-Kind Prescription Drug Safety Network
National Network Convenes Educators, Policy Makers, Industry Leaders, and Community Leaders Committed to Combating Prescription Drug Abuse Through Prevention Education
WASHINGTON, Oct. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- EVERFI, Inc., the nation's leading prevention education innovator used in 1 in 7 schools nationwide, today announced the launch of the Prescription Drug Safety Network, a national coalition of partners committed to using proven and innovative digital prevention education to empower Americans with the skills to make safe and healthy decisions about prescription drug use for themselves, their families, and their communities.
"Prescription drug abuse has dealt a devastating blow to communities across the country, yet there are few initiatives aimed at positively preventing the abuse before it occurs," said EVERFI CEO Tom Davidson. "Through the Prescription Drug Safety Network, we are bringing together state officials, policy leaders, industry leaders, educators, and community organizations committed to combating this scourge by investing in prevention education. Everyone needs to be at the table to help solve this crisis."
Partners in the Network are making a commitment to include prevention education as a part of their response and will leverage EVERFI's digital learning solutions that reach more than 20,000 K-12 schools and 1,700 higher education institutions in all 50 states. The digital learning experience provides students with the skills and knowledge needed to make healthy prescription drug decisions. EVERFI's curriculum uses an evidence-based, public health approach and meets the Centers for Disease Control's National Health Education Standards and state academic standards to ensure broad-scale adoption.
Seventy-eight people die each day from opioid overdose, and another 20.8 million have a substance use disorder, but just 10 percent of those 20.8 million receive treatment, according to the U.S. Surgeon General's report Alcohol, Drugs, and Health. Young people are particularly vulnerable, The National Institute of Health's Institute on Drug Abuse reports that nonmedical use of prescription drugs is highest among young adults aged 18 to 25. The CDC reports that 1 in 5 high school seniors report having misused prescription drugs at least once.
Next week, EVERFI will be joined by Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and other local officials and advocates at Linden McKinley STEM Academy in Columbus, Ohio where they will meet with students currently taking EVERFI's new prescription drug abuse course launched this fall.
As part of National Substance Abuse Prevention month, EVERFI and current Network partners will host, support, and participate in the following Network events:
- Milken Institute Future of Health Summit (Washington, DC)
- Prescription Drug Safety Network - Ohio K-12 Schools Launch (Columbus, OH)
- Arkansas Attorney General Rutledge 'Prescription for Life' Network Events (Arkansas - Benton, Bentonville, Batesville, Fort Smith, and Jonesboro)
- Prescription Drug Safety Partner K-12 Schools Launch (Denver, CO)
About EVERFI, Inc.
EVERFI, Inc. is the leading education technology company that provides learners of all ages education for the real world, through innovative and scalable digital learning. Founded in 2008, EVERFI has certified over 16 million learners in critical skill areas with more than 4,300 partners in all 50 U.S. States and Canada. EVERFI is an industry convener that builds Networks to tackle the toughest social issues, including the Campus Prevention Network, a coalition of higher education institutions committed to campus sexual assault and alcohol abuse prevention; and the Financial Capability Network, a coalition of industry leaders dedicated to improving financial outcomes for communities across the country. Some of America's leading CEOs and venture capital firms are EVERFI investors including Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, Google Chairman Eric Schmidt, Twitter founder Evan Williams, TPG Growth, and The Rise Fund.
Learn more about The Prescription Drug Safety Network here.
Media Contact:
Monique Waters
Senior Director of Corporate Communications
[email protected]
301-233-4241
SOURCE EverFi, Inc.
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