NYU Langone and PEP Expand School-Based Overdose Prevention Initiative with Support from Anthem Foundation
NYU Langone Family Health Centers (FHC) and NYU Langone’s Prevention Education Partnership (PEP) are advancing a major school-based initiative aimed at preventing and responding to opioid overdoses among high school students. The program, strengthened through a $600,000 grant from the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation, is being implemented over a three-year period from June 2024 through May 2027.
The initiative focuses on building safer school environments by equipping educators, students, and healthcare professionals with the tools and knowledge needed to recognize, respond to, and prevent opioid-related emergencies, including overdoses caused by fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.
Strengthening School-Based Prevention and Emergency Preparedness
The collaboration between NYU Langone Family Health Centers and the Prevention Education Partnership is designed to create a “whole-school” model of prevention and intervention. This approach integrates healthcare services, education, and emergency preparedness within school environments to ensure rapid response and early intervention when substance use risks arise.
At the core of the initiative is a coordinated effort to update school emergency response protocols, expand training for staff and faculty, and improve access to life-saving interventions such as naloxone, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses.
Through the program, school personnel are trained to identify the signs of opioid overdose and respond effectively in emergency situations. In addition, naloxone is strategically placed within school facilities so that it is readily available when needed.
Beyond emergency response, the initiative also strengthens pathways for early identification and referral. Students at risk of substance use are connected to behavioral health services, counseling, and treatment programs through established referral systems.
Training Reach and Early Implementation Progress
Since the launch of the program, significant progress has already been made. More than 500 school staff members have completed training focused on overdose recognition, response protocols, and the proper use of naloxone.
The initiative is also advancing its implementation goals across participating schools. One school has successfully completed all key components of the Prevention Education Partnership’s comprehensive overdose prevention model, which includes emergency preparedness planning, overdose education, and naloxone distribution.
Two additional schools are currently in the final stages of implementation and are expected to complete full program integration by July 2026.
These milestones highlight the scalability of the program and its ability to be integrated into real-world school environments, where staff and students can benefit from structured prevention systems.
Leadership Perspective on Community-Based Prevention
Dr. Christy Valentine-Theard, president of Anthem’s New York Medicaid and Medicare plan, emphasized the importance of consistent, community-based intervention strategies.
She noted that prevention efforts are most effective when trusted partners are embedded directly within communities—particularly in places where young people spend most of their time, such as schools.
According to Dr. Valentine-Theard, the grant enables NYU Langone Family Health Centers and PEP to expand their preventive care efforts by strengthening school readiness, improving training access, and ensuring that both students and staff are better equipped to respond to overdose emergencies.
She also highlighted the importance of early connection to care, stating that timely intervention can significantly reduce the risk of long-term substance use challenges among adolescents.
A Whole-School Model for Prevention
The program adopts a comprehensive prevention framework that extends beyond emergency response. It is designed to build long-term resilience within school communities through education, training, and communication.
This includes:
- Updating school emergency response plans to reflect opioid-specific risks
- Providing structured overdose education for staff and students
- Expanding access to naloxone across school campuses
- Training teachers, counselors, and administrators in overdose response
- Strengthening referral systems for behavioral health and addiction support services
By integrating these components, the initiative aims to create a coordinated system where prevention, preparedness, and care are seamlessly connected.
PEP Talks: Engaging Students Through Education and Dialogue
A central component of the initiative is the PEP Talks: Doctors and Teens in Conversation program. Developed by NYU Langone’s Prevention Education Partnership, this curriculum is designed to encourage open dialogue between healthcare professionals and adolescents.
The program focuses on educating students about the risks associated with both legal and illegal substances, while also promoting harm-reduction strategies that prioritize safety and informed decision-making.
Rather than relying solely on traditional lecture-based instruction, PEP Talks encourages interactive discussions between medical professionals and students. This approach helps build trust and makes it easier for young people to ask questions about substance use, mental health, and peer pressure.
Addressing the Fentanyl Crisis Among Youth
One of the most critical modules within the PEP Talks curriculum focuses on fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that has been increasingly linked to overdose deaths across the United States.
The module explains how illicitly manufactured fentanyl is often found in counterfeit pills and mixed with other substances without the user’s knowledge, significantly increasing the risk of accidental overdose.
Students and school staff are taught how to recognize the signs of an opioid overdose, which may include slowed or stopped breathing, unconsciousness, and pinpoint pupils. The training also provides step-by-step guidance on how to administer naloxone in emergency situations.
By focusing on fentanyl awareness and overdose response, the program aims to prepare school communities for real-world emergencies and reduce the likelihood of fatal outcomes.
Expert Insight on Program Impact
Dr. Larissa K. Laskowski, assistant professor of emergency medicine and medical toxicology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and creator of PEP Talks, emphasized the importance of integrated prevention efforts.
She explained that the success of the program lies in how its components work together. While PEP provides prevention education and training expertise, NYU Langone Family Health Centers contribute established relationships with schools that help ensure effective implementation.
According to Dr. Laskowski, this collaboration results in more sustainable systems where emergency plans, training programs, and naloxone access become part of daily school operations rather than isolated initiatives.
Expanding Screening and Early Intervention in Schools
In addition to overdose prevention training, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation is also supporting the development of adolescent substance use screening and intervention protocols within NYU’s School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs).
These protocols are designed to identify substance use behaviors early and connect students with appropriate care before issues escalate.
The initiative addresses a recognized gap in preventive healthcare, where early screening is often underutilized despite its proven effectiveness in reducing long-term substance use risks.
With Anthem’s support, NYU Langone is expanding this model across its network of SBHCs, which collectively serve the largest population of students within the New York City Public Schools system.
Integrating SBIRT into School Health Systems
The initiative incorporates the SBIRT framework—Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment—which is widely recommended by organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and New York State’s Office of Addiction Services and Supports.
Despite its strong evidence base, SBIRT is not consistently implemented in school-based health settings due to workflow and operational challenges.
The current pilot program seeks to address these barriers by developing practical tools such as electronic documentation systems, standardized referral pathways, staff training modules, and workflow integration strategies.
The program also includes structured evaluation components to measure effectiveness, feasibility, and consistency in real-world school environments.
Commitment to Health Equity and Community Support
The Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and part of the Elevance Health Foundation, focuses on improving health outcomes for socially vulnerable populations.
Its work emphasizes health equity, with priority areas including maternal and child health, mental health, and nutrition-based health interventions.
The foundation also supports communities during times of crisis and coordinates year-round employee engagement programs, including donation matching and volunteer initiatives.
Through its partnership with NYU Langone and PEP, the foundation is helping strengthen preventive healthcare systems that support youth well-being and address the growing challenges of substance use and opioid exposure.
Building Safer Schools for the Future
As the program continues to expand through 2027, its long-term goal is to establish sustainable, scalable models of overdose prevention and early intervention across school systems.
By combining education, healthcare integration, and emergency preparedness, the initiative aims to reduce overdose risks, improve early detection of substance use, and ensure that schools are better equipped to protect student health.
Ultimately, the collaboration represents a broader shift toward proactive, community-based healthcare strategies that prioritize prevention and early action—particularly in environments where young people are most vulnerable.
About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation
The Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, is a philanthropic arm of the Elevance Health Foundation. The Foundation works to address health equity by focusing on improving the health of the socially vulnerable through strategic partnerships and programs in our communities with an emphasis on maternal child health; mental health; and food as medicine. Additionally, the Foundation also responds to disasters when our communities need us the most. The Foundation coordinates the company’s year-round Dollars for Dollars program which provides a 100 percent match of associates’ donations, as well as its Volunteer Time Off and Dollars for Doers community service programs. ®ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross names and symbol are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association
