The education programs should focus around the effects drugs will have on the students body and mind.  It's imperative that the education be as graphic and realistic as possible.  The education needs to overcome the powerful effect of peer pressure and the environment that the child may face at home.  Pictures of the lungs and yellow teeth of a smoker, the mouth of a chewing tobacco user, the withering body of a drug addict and liver of an alcoholic are some examples.  These images will be the mind of a child when they are under pressure to make a decision.

Prescription drugs also need to be covered in the curriculum.    Children need to understand that prescription drugs should only be used under the prescription of a doctor and that using them outside of this could cause serious problems.  The news world is full of tragedies involving children overdosing on prescription drugs.  Every effort should be made to education children on their dangers.

Both tobacco and alcohol are in full supply in many households and these drugs can be easily taken by children without their parents knowing about it.  Children see their parents smoking and drinking and that can make them feel empowered to try it as well.  Not only should parents carefully monitor their cigarettes or alcohol but they also should have honest, candid discussions with their children about the effects of these drugs.   

Preventing drug and alcohol use among our grade school age children should be an imperative everywhere.  Studies show that children who start to use drugs and alcohol at a young age are many times more likely to be an addict as an adult.  We owe it all our children to provide the substance abuse education and prevention that they deserve.

Charlie Bentson King is a writer and creative content director for Educational Training Videos - a distributor of educational videos including videos on grade school drug prevention.