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Coaches vs. Overdoses Helps Tackle Fentanyl and Defeat Overdoses Through Prevention.
(SEPTEMBER 16, 2024) – INDIANAPOLIS – Decatur Central High School is using its Friday night lights to shine a spotlight on community and school district efforts to tackle fentanyl and defeat overdoses in partnership with Coaches vs. Overdoses and the Decatur Township Drug Free Coalition. This effort provides prevention, education, and awareness resources to help Decatur Township team up to stop substance misuse from devastating our community.
Decatur Township is hosting its Coaches vs. Overdoses game on Friday, September 20th, 2024 and as part of an all-out blitz to tackle fentanyl. Throughout the night, there will be informative announcements as part of this prevention and awareness campaign. Decatur Township is also excited to welcome Rick DeMulling as an honored guest to perform the coin toss. DeMulling is a former NFL player and current President of the Indianapolis Chapter for the NFL Alumni Association.
The Decatur Township Drug Free Coalition and the Drug Enforcement Agency will be on hand to distribute information and share the educational trailer with the community. “As a youth-focused prevention coalition, we are thrilled to partner with our school district to launch the Coaches vs. Overdoses campaign. By working together with educators, coaches and district leaders, we aim to raise awareness about the dangers of substance misuse and empower students to make healthy choices,”said Coalition Director Kelly Ivey.
Beyond the school and athletic setting, Ivey shared goals for further impact: “In turn, the hope is for our student-athletes and parents to take this message into their homes and out into the community. This initiative is a powerful step forward in protecting our youth and preventing and reducing substance use.”
Decatur Township school leaders and coaches will be providing prevention materials to parents and students at all schools to help Tackle Fentanyl over the next several months. The effort includes printed playbooks and additional materials to review how you cannot tell the difference between real and fake pills, and raising awareness to prevent substance abuse with our Coaches vs. Overdoses kick off week.
“Fentanyl is the leading cause of death for Americans under 40. Coaches across America are teaming up to tackle fentanyl and am proud that we are hopefully able to save some lives through the Coaches vs. Overdoses effort. Statistics show that if teens know just one pill can kill and fentanyl is in every fake pill, we will save lives and have fewer overdoses. It’s a pretty simple winning game plan – just don’t take what you are not prescribed, one pill can kill,” said Justin Dixson, Director of Operations.
This is year three of the Coaches vs. Overdoses campaign nationwide, which began after Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy White lost a family member to a fake pill and has decided to use a personal tragedy to help others.
“I lost a family member to a fake pill, now I’m a full-time dad raising my two grandkids. I appreciate all Decatur Township is doing to make sure this doesn’t happen to your family,” said Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy White. “Remember, don’t take what you’re not prescribed, and that fake is fatal.”
Learn More about this prevention campaign from school and coalition staff & students:
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About Decatur Township Drug Free Coalition
The Decatur Township Drug Free Coalition was established in 2016 and serves as an integral part of the community. The coalition exists to prevent and reduce substance use among youth in Decatur Township by strengthening the family unit through a collaboration of community resources. The coalition is funded through the Drug-Free Communities Support Grant awarded by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Through this grant the coalition is able to focus on prevention, recovery, public safety, and community engagement efforts for Decatur Township. To learn more about the coalition please visit www.drugfreedecatur.org for more information.
About MSD Decatur Township
The MSD of Decatur Township is student invested,community connected. Decatur Township prioritizes student learning, safety and customer service, and fostering a support system for our families. Located on the southwest side of Indianapolis, Decatur Township is proud to serve thousands of elementary, middle, and high school students and families. The district vision is Preparing Students to be Tomorrow Ready. Together, we are DECATUR PROUD! Learn more at www.decaturproud.org.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Emily LeMay
Director of Student & Family Engagement
MSD of Decatur Township
elemay@decaturproud.org
317-856-5265
