The goal of health education is to provide Kentucky students with the knowledge and skills needed to adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2017), “research shows a strong connection between healthy behaviors and academic achievement (e.g., grades, standardized tests, graduation rates, attendance).” Skill development, in conjunction with opportunities for creating and reinforcing healthy behaviors, focuses on personal decision-making, goal setting, self-management, interpersonal communication, accessing information, analyzing influences and advocacy. When these skills are combined with foundational health-related information, students are equipped to navigate today’s complex society and lead healthy lifestyles.

Standard 7 Practices for Health-Enhancing Behaviors: Research confirms practicing health-enhanced behaviors can prevent many diseases and injuries and reduce harmful and risk-taking behaviors such as abuse and neglect, drug abuse, prescription drug abuse and sexual activity.

(18) (b) The academic Standard in practical living skills for elementary, middle, and high school levels shall include a focus on drug abuse prevention, with an emphasis on the prescription drug epidemic and the connection between prescription opioid abuse and addiction to other drugs, such as heroin and synthetic drugs.