DEA speaker and students urge Lowell schools to adopt free 'Operation Prevention' materials

The Lowell School Committee on April 3 approved a request that the superintendent review current drug-prevention programs and consider adopting additional, evidence-based materials, including outreach from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Operation Prevention.

Brian O’Keefe, who identified himself as a Lowell native and a Drug Enforcement Administration outreach presenter, told the committee the Operation Prevention curriculum is free and evidence-based and is built on material from national research bodies. “This is 100% free,” O’Keefe said, and he urged the district to consider the program’s classroom modules and public presentations.

Students from the Daily Middle School who had researched substance-use prevention asked the committee to adopt a prevention curriculum and integrate lessons into health or SEL classes. One student said the class project showed many peers were unaware of what child trafficking and fentanyl dangers look like and urged curriculum adoption.

Committee members said the district’s new middle-school health teachers and a pending health curriculum review make middle schools an appropriate pilot site. The committee authorized superintendent outreach and approved in-school presentations; the committee also accepted offers from the DEA for presentations at middle schools at no cost.

Next steps: the superintendent will review the district’s current prevention programming, return with recommendations for curriculum adoption and coordinate community presentations.