Canterbury School of Florida has been chosen as one of two schools in Florida to pilot a program for a science-based prescription drug abuse education effort, an important message in Florida, which leads the nation’s prescription drug abuse epidemic. 

After a successful launch at four San Diego schools, the WakeUp! campaign moved to Canterbury. Its success will be evaluated by the pilot schools before it is launched nationally.

The program has been supported on the national, state and local level by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, members of Congress, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and local officials. It also is supported by several national health organizations, including the National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens (NIDA).

The following events will be held on Canterbury School’s Knowlton campus in St. Petersburg.

• Thursday, November 8 –
  • 9:50 – 10:35 am - Students in grades 5-7 will attend an age-appropriate assembly during which the nationally recognized Wakeup! team will present a science-based program detailing the dangers of prescription drug abuse. 
  • 10:40 – 11:55 am - Student in grades 8-12 will attend a program that gives more comprehensive information. 
• Week of November 12-16 -  Parent Information Night / Town Hall meeting—date TBA (at Shorecrest Preparatory School)

About WAKE UP!:

WAKE UP! is a community educational campaign established by The Pain Truth, a Florida 501(c)(3), to combat the increase in prescription drug abuse among teenagers. It is designed to use science, not scare tactics, to educate teenagers of the effects and dangers of prescription drugs.

The program uses a school “takeover” approach to reach thousands of students and their families with an extended program designed to teach not preach about the dangers of abusing and misusing prescription drugs. Campaign elements include: simultaneous student, teacher, family, physician and community education; four weeks of one-on-one engagement; and integrated & interactive social media components.