Just Say Know! Safety First: A Comprehensive, Harm Reduction-Based, Drug Intervention Curriculum

Session Description: What if youth substance use prevention could move beyond "just say no" and equip young people with the knowledge and skills to make safer, healthier decisions? Developed by the Stanford REACH Lab, Safety First is an innovative, evidence-informed, 13-lesson curriculum that combines prevention, harm reduction, and trauma-informed practices to address cannabis, nicotine/e-cigarettes, alcohol, opioids and fentanyl, hallucinogens, and other drugs. In this highly interactive workshop, participants will explore the principles of harm reduction, examine common misconceptions about adolescent substance use, and experience engaging activities directly from the curriculum. Through small-group discussions and hands-on lesson demonstrations, attendees will discover practical strategies for facilitating honest, science-based conversations that resonate with today's youth while encouraging abstinence as the healthiest choice and providing risk-reduction guidance for students who are already experimenting or using. Participants will also receive a guided tour of the free, online Safety First curriculum and learn how to confidently implement its lessons in classrooms, prevention programs, healthcare settings, and community organizations. The curriculum incorporates media literacy, critical thinking, family engagement, and evidence-based instructional practices that empower youth to evaluate information, reduce risk, and make informed decisions. Attendees will leave with immediately applicable tools, adaptable teaching strategies, and access to free, ready-to-use resources that can strengthen youth prevention efforts and support healthier outcomes in schools and communities. Whether you are an educator, prevention specialist, healthcare professional, or community leader, this session will provide practical, evidence-based approaches you can begin using immediately.