05/28/2026
We are still playing catch-up from our busy May schedule- a good problem to have! The next to last week of school, Elbert County 4-H staff, Ms. Lauren and Ms. Alex, taught the annual opioid prevention curriculum to ECMS 7th grade students.
This is the fifth year that these lessons have been taught to Elbert County Middle Schoolers in the 7th grade. Ms. Lauren, as a part of UGA’s USDA Rural Health & Safety Grant Team, had the opportunity to help write and pilot the curriculum before it was rolled out statewide in 2024. Thanks to our local collaboration on the project, Elbert County is well represented in the Georgia 4-H Journeys in Health & Safety: The Opioid Crisis magazine that Ms. Lauren also co-authored. Shout-outs include Dr. Jonathan P**n, SRO Marc Fleming, EMS Director Anna (Greenway) Sheridan and EC 4-H Alumnus Madison (Brown) Smith.
The four lesson curriculum discusses opioids, their intended use and misuse, how they affect the brain, the body chemistry behind how opioids work, alternatives to pain management, safe storage, safe disposal and how to make a difference in the community. Why is this important? Unfortunately, Elbert County has one of the highest pill per capita rates in the state. Early awareness and education make a difference!
We appreciate the leadership Elbert County Middle School for allowing us in their 7th grade science classrooms.
