Operation Aware is a prevention and positive life skills program that has 40 years of proven effectiveness in reaching children and teens. We continue to serve as the comprehensive prevention education resource for the development of strong, healthy young people in Tulsa and surrounding communities in northeastern Oklahoma. We serve over 10,000 students each year – reaching 14,070 students last year – and have served nearly 700,000 students since our inception in 1979.

Unfortunately, while schools are struggling to find funds for prevention education, educators are continuously struggling with student smoking, drinking, and drugs – particularly “vaping” and prescription drug misuse. As a result, one suburban school district has contracted with Operation Aware to provide after school programming for students caught with illicit substances. The need for our program is clear, and the demand for our program from schools is on the rise; now, the only missing component is funding.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has estimated that prevention education, if implemented nationwide, would reduce substance abuse initiation for 1.5 million youth and delay onset for two years on average. A delay in starting substance abuse is well-established to reduce problems later in life. Additionally, prevention education “could save an estimated $18 per $1 invested if implemented nationwide.” With that said, we believe our program is a cost-effective solution to the substance abuse epidemic in Oklahoma. With your help, we can make a difference in our community!

[i]
https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/cost-benefits-prevention.pdf

[ii]
https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/cost-benefits-prevention.pdf

The Conversation Starts Now

By Operation Aware

The Conversation Starts Now

Team Members