Interactive drug education program returns to Harrison County, WV schools

BRIDGEPORT, WEST VIRGINIA – Students in Harrison County, West Virginia participated in a dynamic drug education and prevention initiative this week, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.

Seventh and tenth grade students at Mountaineer Middle School, Bridgeport Middle School, Bridgeport High School, and South Harrison Middle School are participating in an initiative known as “Drug Prevention On The Move!” The centerpiece of the “On The Move” program is a unique, interactive mobile classroom trailer where students learn about a variety of drugs and their effects on the body and brain. Students answer questions electronically, providing useful insight into their perceptions of various drugs. The students also participate in an interactive impaired and distracted driving simulation.

“Empowering young people to make informed decisions based on accurate, factual information about illicit drugs is a critical component of the continued effort to loosen the grip of substance abuse and addiction in our region,” noted U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld. “I commend Harrison County Schools for their continued dedication to providing their students with innovative and impactful drug education and prevention initiatives like the ‘On The Move!’ trailer.”

The “On The Move!” program, which originally visited Harrison County in December 2015, is an initiative of Operation UNITE, a non-profit organization based in London, Kentucky. Operation UNITE works to rid communities of illegal drug use through undercover investigations, treatment, support, and education. The educational trailer is also provided in partnership with the United States Health Resources and Services Administration and the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, an initiative of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.