During my time at Naperville North high school, I attended two unforgettable funerals due to drug overdose. Sadly, it’s apparent that there has been a rise in heroin related deaths since 2015. For example, if you look further than inside the classrooms at Naperville North, you will notice that there is an overall rise in heroin related deaths entirely throughout DuPage County. For example, according to the Daily Herold, in 2015, there were forty-three deaths due to heroine in DuPage County and in 2016 there were sixty-two (Dailyherold). As you can see, the numbers of heroine related deaths continue to grow. In response, Naperville North has tried to help overturn the current heroine epidemic by hosting guest speaker Chris Herren a previous NBA player who lost it all to heroin, share his story. Chris Herren's speech is aimed to educate youth and at-risk populations on the importance of a healthy lifestyle, good decision making and how to handle pressure within a teen's life (Theheroineproject). Although Chris’s speech is reported to have a very strong impact on teens and young adults, I want to see not only other schools but my own school do more. That being said, having a famous person stand in front of 1,500 students and share his story of addiction isn’t going to help the current heroin epidemic. Sure, it might encourage students to reach out to their guidance counselors or curb their addictions for a week. But, as soon as Chris Herron’s message dies, so does the students interest in remaining sober. Therefore, we need the Illinois Department of Human Services, Drug Prevention Program to come out and educate students on drug awareness and drug overdose prevention. Having guest speakers come out to Naperville North is a great first step towards addressing the heroin epidemic but, teaching students how to save lives is the next. Please join me in supporting the incorportation of drug overdose prevention into Naperville North's health classes in order to help save lives.
