News/Events

Morrilton students get their first look at Prescription for Life

MORRILTON – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge today continued to promote the first-in-the-nation education initiative called “Prescription for Life” at Morrilton High School. Prescription for Life was created by the Attorney General’s office and features a digital platform to help high school students in the State understand the dangers of prescription drug misuse and how to prevent abuse.

The Attorney General’s office is covering the cost of the program, which means Prescription for Life comes at no cost to participating schools in Arkansas. Since the program launched in September, it is now operating in 32 schools across the State and more than 2,100 Arkansas students have participated in Prescription for Life.

“Prescription for Life has started a conversation in many high schools across Arkansas about the dangers of abusing and misusing prescription medications,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “Through this program, teachers and administrators are showing a commitment to tackling the opioid epidemic. It is my goal that this educational program will become a model for other states that will no doubt help save lives.”

Rutledge observed a health class of students going through the 30-minute course, which was followed up with a post-assessment survey to measure changes in students’ attitudes and behavior.

“We are excited to have Attorney General Rutledge to present her Prescription for Life program,” said Principal Danny Ketcherside. “I think it will greatly benefit our students and our community overall. The students and staff are excited about the new program and think it is going to be beneficial for them in the future.”

Using an evidence-based public health approach, the digital course empowers high school students with the skills and knowledge they need to make safe and healthy decisions about prescription drugs. The course is aligned with the Centers for Disease Control’s National Health Education Standards and State academic standards.

The self-paced modular course uses video, animations, simulations and interactivity to deliver a personalized, self-guided learning experience. The real-life simulations demonstrate the impact misuse can have on students’ physical and mental health, relationships and future goals while the scenario-based exercises help students practice how to support other students in their choices regarding the safe use of prescription drugs.

Educators from the Attorney General’s office are also available to conduct teacher in-service trainings in person and through webcasts and give presentations to parent and community groups throughout the State about how to talk with young people about risks associated with opioid use and how to recognize signs that their loved ones are abusing drugs.

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge opened registration for a Winter Webcast Series of trainings on common senior scams, dating violence prevention, internet safety, identity theft, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and prescription drug abuse and misuse prevention.

“This series of webcasts is an important tool for Arkansans to learn about the diverse resources provided by the Attorney General’s office,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “Technology gives us a unique opportunity to connect with Arkansans across the state. Once again these trainings will be available to help individuals navigate the internet safely, recognize warning signs of dating violence, avoid common scams and identity theft and access public information through the Freedom of Information Act. To educate more people on the pain pill epidemic, I have added a program about the dangers of prescription drug abuse and misuse.”

From noon-1 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 17, participants can learn about scams that often target seniors, such as the Favorite Grandchild Scam, IRS Scam, Work-from-Home Scam, Door-to-Door Scam and many more. Scam artists are always finding new ways to try to trick consumers out of their hard earned money. This webcast will highlight some common scams, offer ways to spot the scam and what to do if you have been scammed.

On Wednesday, Jan. 24, a Break the Cycle training will be offered from noon-1 p.m. Break the Cycle is a leading national nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive dating abuse programs. Participants will learn about dating abuse, methods for intervention and how to implement a Healthy Relationships 101 session.

The internet safety training, or Digital You, will take place from noon-1 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 7. Digital You is a comprehensive, interactive educational program created by AT&T and Common Sense Media to offer tools, tips, apps, guidance and education for people of all ages and levels of online experience to learn more about how to have a safe and secure online experience. Rutledge adopted the curriculum in 2016.

A training to prevent being a victim of ID theft, which occurs when someone uses your personal information without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes, most commonly to obtain access to credit in your name, will be offered on from noon-1 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 14.

A FOIA webcast covering public records and meetings will be available from 10 a.m.-noon on Wednesday, Feb. 28.

And the Prescription for Life webcast brings a first-in-the-nation curriculum to Arkansas high school students. The digital platform addresses the dangers of prescription drug misuse and how to prevent abuse. The program is free to high schools across Arkansas. The webcast will be available from noon-1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 7.

Says, ‘This report, if fully implemented, will not only change rural America, but it will empower these communities for generations’

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge applauds the recommendations made by President Donald J. Trump’s Rural Prosperity Task Force. The inter-agency task force was chaired by Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue with the responsibility of establishing a vision and action plan to guide a better rural America into the future.

“Being raised on a cattle ranch in rural Independence County provided me a strong work ethic, an appreciation for the land and an understanding of needs in rural communities,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “Many of the issues addressed in the task force report are the same concerns brought forward by Arkansans as I have traveled the state holding roundtable events over the last three years, including the more than 375 farmers I met with in 2016. This comprehensive effort creates the framework that will assist Arkansas farmers, ranchers, foresters, producers and rural communities who have felt neglected and deserve access to high-speed internet, affordable health care, workforce development and regulatory relief. This report, if fully implemented, will not only change rural America, but it will empower these communities for generations.”