Doctors and Teens in Conversation

Our modular substance use prevention curriculum, PEP Talks, fosters an open dialogue between teenagers and medical professionals. Our lessons highlight the unique risks associated with commonly encountered legal and illegal substances, while teaching harm-reduction strategies that prioritize wellness and safety.

Fentanyl PEP Talk:

The rise of illicitly-manufactured fentanyls (IMFs) in counterfeit pills and powders into the illegal drug supply means our teens are using drugs that are potentially more deadly than ever before. This PEP Talk discusses the rise of fentanyl, explains why overdose so frequently results in death, and offers instruction on identifying and treating an opioid overdose with naloxone.

By educating teens and school staff about the risks of fentanyl, opioid overdose response, and naloxone, we can prepare the next generation to combat the greatest public health crisis of our time. Learn more about PEP’s Opioid Overdose Prevention Program here.

Additional Talks:

The expanded PEP Talks curriculum is made available to schools on a first-come, first-served basis as time and resources allow. Contact us to learn more.

Alcohol and Xanax

Alcohol continues to be the most widely used substance among teens. This PEP Talk demonstrates how easy it is to overdose on alcoholic beverages. It also reveals how alcohol acts similarly in the brain to a commonly misused class of medications known as benzodiazepines (i.e. Xanax), and how both substances can be harmful and potentially addicting. With an average of six deaths per day in the United States caused by alcohol poisoning alone, effective education about drinking responsibly remains as important as ever.

Marijuana, Edibles, and K2

Nearly three in ten 12th graders reported using marijuana in some form in 2023. This PEP Talk describes the impact of marijuana use on the adolescent brain, demonstrates why people frequently overdose on edibles and highlights the differences between marijuana and synthetic cannabinoids (known as K2).

With the legalization of adult recreational marijuana use a new reality in New York and many other states, open conversations are necessary to deliver vital information to a teen population with age-specific considerations.

Nicotine and Vaping

In 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration declared teen vaping an epidemic. This PEP Talk underscores nicotine’s addictive potential, describes the harms associated with vaping, and details how e-cigarette companies have taken lessons from Big Tobacco in advertising its products directly to young people.

With the rise of vaping-associated lung injury, and as new studies identify serious harms associated with vaping, it is increasingly important to debunk the widely held belief among teens that vaping is harmless.

If you’re interested in scheduling a PEP Talk at your school, or if you’re a medical professional interested in giving a PEP Talk, please contact us.