D19: DrugFree Kids

Multiracial group of children interacting at school, fostering social skills and diversity.

Course Overview

CE Hours

3 CE Credits

Course Description

DrugFree Kids is a structured drug prevention curriculum designed for health care professionals, teachers, counselors, and parents working with children in Grades 1 and 2. Built around the DrugFree USA curriculum, this course presents four monthly lessons using simple, memorable slogans, stories, and age-appropriate activities to help young children develop a foundational value system and make pre-decisions to avoid harmful drugs. Topics include identifying false advertising, understanding the dangers of tobacco, developing honesty and integrity, and recognizing alcohol as a harmful drug.

Course Learning Objectives

At the end of this course, learners will be able to:

  1. Explain the rationale for beginning drug prevention education in Grades 1 and 2 rather than later grades
  2. Describe the structure and format of the DrugFree Kids curriculum including its slogan-based learning approach
  3. Identify how the DrugFree Kids curriculum aligns with California Education Code requirements for health education
  4. Implement Grade 1 and Grade 2 lesson procedures for each of the four monthly topics — advertising, tobacco, honesty, and alcohol
  5. Use the four DrugFree Kids stories to communicate age-appropriate messages about drug-free living to young children
  6. Apply classroom discussion ground rules and activity-based learning strategies to reinforce drug prevention messages
  7. Describe how early value development and pre-decision making support long-term drug-free behaviors in children

Course Format and Faculty

Course Format:

Online linked resources and lectures available anytime, 24/7. Includes one multiple-choice exam taken at the end of the course. A passing grade of 75% is required. Upon passing, learners may print their certificate immediately.

Course Developers and Instructors:

R. Klimes, PhD, MPH (Johns Hopkins University) is a scholar and author in health-related research, health behaviors, ethics, end-of-life care, and overall wellness. He has written numerous research reports and books and has held academic and leadership roles in higher education and public health internationally.

Course Time:

Approximately 3 hours for online study, test taking, course evaluation feedback, and certificate printing.