During National Prevention Week, it’s worth taking a closer look at how schools prepare to respond to health emergencies—and how that preparation can make a meaningful difference.
In a New York City school, an unexpected medical situation can unfold quickly. When a student shows signs of distress, school staff are often the first to respond. In those moments, having clear protocols, access to tools like naloxone, and the confidence that comes from training can shape how effectively a situation is handled.
When that preparation is in place, the response looks very different. Staff recognize the signs of an overdose, act quickly, and follow a plan they’ve practiced. Roles are clear, resources are accessible, and the response is coordinated. That shift—from uncertainty to readiness—is a practical example of what prevention looks like.
Prevention is often associated with education and awareness—and those are essential. But in the context of the opioid crisis, prevention also means readiness. It means equipping the places where young people spend their time with the skills, tools, and support needed to respond effectively.
The urgency is real. Opioid overdose deaths among New Yorkers ages 15 to 24 nearly doubled, rising from 48 in 2019 to 87 in 2022, according to the NYC Chief Medical Examiner and the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. When the stakes are this high, schools cannot be expected to respond alone.
That is why partnerships between schools and healthcare providers are so important. One example is the collaboration between Family Health Centers at NYU Langone and NYU Langone’s Prevention Education Partnership (PEP), which is building a “whole-school” approach to overdose prevention. The model includes updating emergency response plans, training staff and school communities to recognize overdoses and use naloxone, ensuring the medication is accessible, and strengthening pathways to behavioral health and substance use support.
The impact is already visible. The program has trained more than 500 school staff and reached 350 schools across the city. One school has completed all core components of the model, with additional schools on track. These milestones matter because they reflect a shift from one-time training to sustained preparedness embedded in daily school operations.
PEP’s broader work reinforces that progress. Since 2016, it has reached more than 15,000 students across 350 schools, and since 2022, nearly 1,000 school-based learners have been trained in overdose response, with more than 60 schools equipped with naloxone. This consistency builds trust and ensures schools are better prepared to respond.
A key part of this effort is PEP Talks: Doctors and Teens in Conversation, a curriculum that connects students with medical professionals to discuss substance use, safety, and prevention. These conversations provide clear, accurate information about emerging risks, including fentanyl, and equip both students and adults with the knowledge to respond in an emergency. When schools share a common understanding, they are better positioned to prevent and respond to crises.
Prevention also means identifying risk earlier. That is where SBIRT—Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment—plays a role. This evidence-based approach helps identify high-risk substance use and connect individuals to care before issues escalate. While endorsed by leading organizations, it is not yet widely integrated into school-based health clinics.
NYU Langone’s School Health Program is working to change that by incorporating SBIRT and validated screening tools into routine care. This includes building workflows, training staff, and creating referral pathways to ensure students receive timely support. Embedding these practices into existing care settings helps make prevention more consistent and sustainable.
Scaling this work requires both resources and collaboration. Support from the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation is helping expand this model across New York City schools. More importantly, it reflects what is possible when schools, healthcare providers, and community partners work together toward a shared goal.
During National Prevention Week, the question is not whether prevention matters—but what it looks like in practice. In New York City, it means schools that are prepared, staff who are confident, and systems that connect young people to care before a crisis occurs.
We cannot eliminate every risk, but we can reduce the likelihood that an overdose becomes a tragedy. Preparedness—supported by strong partnerships and practical solutions—is one of the most effective ways to do that.
Dr. Christy Valentine Theard is the New York Medicaid and Medicare plan president for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.