Empowering students to make
anti-drug choices by leveraging
the science of addiction.
Each month, approximately 24,000 Oklahoma teens use drugs…and so do more than 130,000 young adults ages 18-25. Thousands are or will become addicted. Many will end up in dangerous situations, incarcerated, in rehab, or victims of an overdose. The statistics are heartbreaking, and they impact families, schools and communities across our state.
At KEY Choices, we know that youth who understand the science of drug use and addiction can make informed, better choices.
So we’re teaching them.
For too many teens across Oklahoma, choosing whether to use drugs is a fact of life.
SCIENCE-DRIVEN, CHOICE-BASED DRUG PREVENTION EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS
In just 3 classroom sessions, we teach students in grades 6-12:
-
The science behind
drug addiction -
Planning ahead to make
positive choices -
Short-and long-term
effects of drug use -
The risks & effects
of vaping -
How marijuana affects
their brain development -
The danger of fentanyl
& counterfeit pills
We don’t just tell kids, “Don’t do drugs.”
We empower them to make informed, healthier choices for themselves.
How we’re different…
Beyond “just say no,” KEY Choices teaches youth the science behind drug use and addiction so they understand why saying no is so important. We know the stresses and pressures they’re experiencing leave them vulnerable to drug use, so we equip them with the facts they need to make healthier choices along with some positive ideas for coping.
We are an educator-run organization with a science-driven, choice-based curriculum based on DEA Opioid Prevention Program content, customized by us to address the needs and circumstances facing Oklahoma youth - including fentanyl. We have also written a curriculum for understanding how marijuana affects the adolescent brain and the risks of vaping. If you are a faith based school or organization, ask us about our spiritually focused curriculum.
Our staff of award-winning teachers have decades of classroom experience, and they have been trained to lead students through this vital information.
Because KEY Choices is funded by donors, we provide and teach the program at no cost to schools.
With KEY Choices, you can play a role in changing
Oklahoma’s drug statistics.
Bring us to your school.
If you’re a school administrator, you can bring KEY Choices to your school/district at no cost by contacting us.
Teach with us.
Interested in becoming a KEY Choices educator? Visit our Employment page to learn more.
Partner with us.
Here is your opportunity to reach many youth by donating to help fund KEY Choices in schools across Oklahoma!
“In my over 40 years of working with children, I have seen the heartbreaking effects of addiction. I am convinced that none of us are untouched by the fall-out from chemical abuse…whether within our families, our workplaces, schools or local communities. As an educator, I have seen that knowledge is power. Youth are empowered not just by understanding that illicit drug use is dangerous, but more by understanding the ‘why’ behind that danger, and how their physical bodies work and are impacted by drugs.
Statistics indicate that when we tell students the truth about how our minds work and how our bodies respond to our mental triggers, it can change their futures. I’ve seen it time and time again: Good information leads to better choices.
With that in mind, I founded KEY Choices to inform as many students as possible about the science of addiction, the dangers of saying yes to illicit drug use, and how it will affect their bodies. With stellar teachers and a strong board of directors, we are on a mission to empower students to make healthy, anti-drug choices by leveraging the science of addiction. Whether you’re a school administrator, an educator or a supporter of our work in schools, you can help us save lives!
Contact me to learn more about our work and how you can make an impact.
-Cathy Crawford