By July 1, 2024, the State Board of Education and the Department of Human Services shall work in consultation with relevant stakeholders, including the Illinois Opioid Crisis Response Advisory Council, to develop and update substance use prevention and recovery resource materials for public elementary and secondary schools. A Substance Use Prevention and Recovery Instruction Resource Guide shall be made available on the State Board of Education's Internet website and shall be sent via electronic mail to all regional offices of education and school districts in this State. The Resource Guide shall provide guidance for school districts and educators regarding student instruction in the topics of substance use prevention and recovery at an age and developmentally appropriate level and shall be reviewed and updated appropriately based on new findings and trends as determined by the State Board of Education or the Department of Human Services . A school district's use of the Resource Guide shall be voluntary. All resources and recommendations within the Resource Guide shall align with the substance use prevention and recovery related topics within the Illinois Learning Standards for Physical Development and Health and the State of Illinois Opioid Action Plan. The Resource Guide shall, at a minimum, include all the following:
Subject to appropriation, the Department of Human Services shall reimburse a grantee for any costs associated with facilitating a heroin and opioid overdose prevention instructional program for school districts seeking to provide instruction under this type of program . Each school district that seeks to participate in the program shall have the discretion to determine which grade levels the school district will instruct under the program.
The program must use effective, research-proven, interactive teaching methods and technologies, and must provide students, parents, and school staff with scientific, social, and emotional learning content to help them understand the risk of drug use. Such learning content must specifically target the dangers of prescription pain medication and heroin abuse. The Department may contract with a health education organization to fulfill the requirements of the program.
105 ILCS 5/22-81