Sponsored by:
Assemblyman GREGORY P. MCGUCKIN
District 10 (Ocean)
Assemblyman JOHN CATALANO
District 10 (Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Directs Commissioner of Education to encourage implementation of Natural High Drug Prevention Program in school districts.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning drug prevention education in public schools, and supplementing chapter 40A of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Commissioner of Education shall work in consultation with the national nonprofit organization Natural High to encourage the implementation of the Natural High Drug Prevention Program in each school district. The program shall include, but is not limited to, use of Natural High videos and research-based curricula, training for State educators on the Natural High program, program assessments, support to activate Natural High clubs at the middle and high school levels in the State, and participation of a State educator on the Natural High Leadership Council to provide State-specific input on the program.
b. The curriculum for the Natural High Drug Prevention Program implemented pursuant to this act shall include information and discussion, adapted to the age and understanding of the students, on the following:
(1) identifying and engaging in positive activities or passions, referred to as natural highs;
(2) the benefits of engaging in natural highs and the consequences of drug use;
(3) setting goals and reaching one’s full potential;
(4) peer pressure, refusal strategies, and influencing peers to adopt a drug-free lifestyle;
(5) identifying positive role models;
(6) basing choices on positive personal values; and
(7) discerning true and false messages about drug use and a drug-free lifestyle.
2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall first apply to the first full school year following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill directs the Commissioner of Education to work with the national nonprofit organization Natural High to encourage the implementation of the Natural High Drug Prevention Program in each school district. The program will include, but is not limited to, use of Natural High videos and research-based curricula, training for State educators on the Natural High program, program assessments, support to activate Natural High clubs at middle schools and high schools in the State, and participation of a State educator on the Natural High Leadership Council to provide State-specific input on the program.
Under the bill, the curriculum for the Natural High Drug Prevention Program implemented in the State’s school districts will include information on: (1) identifying and engaging in positive activities or passions, referred to as natural highs; (2) the benefits of engaging in natural highs and the consequences of drug use; (3) setting goals and reaching one’s full potential; (4) peer pressure, refusal strategies, and influencing peers to adopt a drug-free lifestyle; (5) identifying positive role models; (6) basing choices on positive personal values; and (7) discerning true and false messages about drug use and a drug-free lifestyle. These topics are key components of the research-based curriculum developed by Natural High.