Too Good For Drugs

Too Good for Drugs” is a K-12 evidence-based program developed by the Mendez Foundation and trainings facilitated by Law Enforcement Against Drugs (L.E.A.D). In the midst of the community assessment for Sweet Grass County, Prevention Specialist Samantha Kieffer, met with the Superintendent of schools, principals for Big Timber Grade School and Sweet Grass County High, as well as the Sweet Grass County Sheriff’s Department to explore the school-based community needs. In this meeting it was verbalized that there was a great need and want for an evidence-based program to be brought into the Big Timber Grade School. The Sweet Grass County Sheriff’s department had assigned Student Resource Officer, Jason Ferguson, to also receive training to become a facilitator in the program. After receiving the training, SRO and PS co-facilitated and implemented the “Too Good for Drugs” program into the 7th and 8th grade second quarter health classes on November 1st, 2022. The program ran 10 weeks long (1 lesson every Tuesday morning) and was complete by January 10th, 2023. PS has received great feedback from educators, principal, parents and students regarding the program. The program is designed to provide students with the skills, knowledge and attitudes they need for positive development to keep them from initiating in substance use and to keep the school community drug free. The program addresses social and emotional competency (skills), personal efficacy, attitudes toward substance use, perceived norms, perception of harm/risk and intended use.