This is Not About Drugs: Perspectives
FACILITATOR
Peer-based Youth Substance Use Prevention Program
About the Facilitator Program
This Is Not About Drugs: Perspectives is a peer-based youth substance use prevention program that takes a comprehensive approach to addiction - exploring the underlying motivations behind substance use alongside the real risks associated with experimentation.
Grounded in peer education, the program reflects how young people learn best - through authentic, relatable experiences and meaningful dialogue:
“Peer education defies the conventions of traditional formal education and allows young people to learn in more ‘real world’ ways, benefiting from meaningful examples and conversations with their peers.” — Dodd et al., 2022
Learning Experience
Through a combination of lived-experience interviews with young adults and educational insights from subject matter experts, the program blends personal narrative with scientific understanding.
Perspectives empowers youth to engage with the complexities of substance use and addiction—building empathy, deepening understanding, and supporting informed, healthier decision-making.
Download Overview: This is Not About Drugs Perspectives Youth SUD Program.pdf
What Youth Will Learn
Over the course of the complete program, youth will:
Implementation
This Is Not About Drugs: Perspectives is a universal substance use prevention program designed for youth in grades 7–12.
The program is structured into five Perspectives Chapters, each featuring a short film, a companion facilitator discussion guide, and supplemental activities and assignments, and built-in knowledge assessments and pre/post surveys to measure student learning and program impact.
- Measurement and Feedback: Knowledge assessments and pre/post surveys are included to provide insight into student learning, helping facilitators and partners understand program effectiveness and outcomes.
- Film and Guided Discussion: Youth share their personal stories in real-life, everyday terms, describing how opioids and substance use have impacted them, their families, or friends. A certified facilitator leads a guided discussion that delivers key information, fosters peer conversation, and encourages youth to share their opinions and actively engage in the learning process.
- Flexible Delivery: This multi-format program can be delivered in person, virtually, or through a blended model - allowing you to adapt implementation to your setting and audience needs.
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Scheduling and Use: Each chapter runs approximately 30–45 minutes. Chapters can be delivered as a weekly series, combined into longer sessions, or integrated into existing programming based on your schedule.
The film component may be completed individually by students online or viewed together in a group setting, followed by a guided discussion and activities within the same session to reinforce learning and engagement.
About the Programming. Pricing. Facilitator, Training Process.
Storytelling
The program uses narrative storytelling to provide context and meaning, making complex ideas more relatable and easier to understand. By creating emotional connection and deeper engagement, storytelling helps youth visualize concepts in real-world scenarios.
Peer-based
Structured discussion guides promote peer-based dialogue and active participation, reinforcing key concepts through shared learning and reflection. Complementary assignments deepen understanding by engaging youth in collaborative research and applied learning..
Program Risk Factors
Program addresses early initiation of alcohol and drug use, friends’ use of substances, low perceived risks with substance use, unhealthy ways of coping and trauma and mental health issues.
Program Protective Factors
Educate to the risks of opioid misuse, understand the disease of addiction and contributing factors, encourage help-seeking behaviors, discuss healthy alternatives to substance use in dealing with life stressors.
Facilitator Training Process
Our facilitator training process is 100% virtual and streamlined. Welcoming new facilitators each week and equipping partners to begin delivering the program locally in a short timeframe.
To earn facilitator designation, individuals complete
2 self-paced online prerequisite courses (approximately 3-4 hours total), and complete a 4-hour live virtual training session via Zoom.
Program Pricing
Training and Annual License $675
Special Pricing for 2+ Facilitators
About the Annual License:
The annual license covers everything you need to deliver the program for 12 months - program materials, updates, support, and online resources - with options for individual or group trainers.
15% Multi-Program Discount
15% 6+ Trainers Discount
(discounts cannot be combined)
Bundle Includes
- The Brain and the Disease of Addiction 2.0 CE Credits
- Removing the Shame and Stigma of SUD
- Facilitator Resource Center
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Many organizations use grant, settlement, or public health funding to support licensing and trainer onboarding.
Yes — we offer a 15% discount for purchasing multiple programs and a 15% discount for six or more trainers / facilitators (discounts cannot be combined). Contact our training specialists to learn more information or take advantage of these discounts.
No. Overdose Lifeline does not charge based on the number of people you train or the number of certificates you issue. Your annual license allows unlimited trainings during the license period.
The annual license covers everything you need to deliver the program for 12 months—training materials, updates, support, and online resources—with options for individual or group licensing.
The license period begins at the time of invoice. Your first-year license includes 14 months of access, with two complimentary months to support onboarding and initial implementation.
An individual license covers one trainer. A group license covers two or more trainers from the same organization, helping teams deliver more training without paying individual fees for each person.
Example: An organization enrolls 6 staff. The fee includes a per-person training fee and a group license fee, with all six staff operating under the same group license.
Individual License = $200/program
Group License = $400/program
Licenses are program-specific. Organizations offering multiple Overdose Lifeline programs will hold a license for each program.
License renewal is required annually for Overdose Lifeline programs. Renewal will extend a trainer’s program access, usage terms, and Certified Trainer/Facilitator credentials an additional 12 months.
Approaching your renewal date, you will receive an email from Overdose Lifeline with the option to renew your license for an additional year.
If you choose to not renew, your usage, programming access, and trainer credentials will terminate upon your license expiration date.
There is not a retraining fee or requirement. We recommend that you download and review the resource center training materials prior to your next implementation as there may be updates to the program material since your last usage.
Everything is done 100% virtually* — from the self-paced prerequisites to the live Zoom session — so there’s no travel required.
*On-site trainings are available for additional fees and travel reimbursement.
Training is self-paced, allowing you to move as quickly or gradually as needed.
Most trainees complete the prerequisite courses (approximately 4-5 hours total) within 1–2 weeks, then attend the 4-hour live virtual session offered monthly.
At completion of prerequisites and training session, Facilitator Certificate and credentials are issued.
This educational program is designed for individuals, professionals, and organizations committed to preventing youth substance use.
No. Licensed facilitators may deliver the program as many times as needed during the license period.
Licensed facilitators may deliver the program in-person or live virtual formats.
Facilitators may not record the This is Not About Drugs session for on-demand or public distribution.
The bundle includes access to turnkey program materials, including:
- Facilitator companion discussion guide (multiple lengths and fully scripted)
- Pre- and Post-Assessment
- Program Chapter Films
- Supplemental Activities and Assignments for Each Chapter
- and more
All materials are available through Overdose Lifeline’s online resource center. Materials may be customize with local resources and information and co-branded.
When Overdose Lifeline publishes a program update, certified facilitators are notified by email with instructions on how to log in and access the updated materials in the online resource center. An Update Notification document within the resource center outlines what has changed and highlights any new or revised materials.
Overdose Lifeline retains ownership of all program materials. The annual license grants authorized use of materials during the active license period.
Annual licenses include access to technical support throughout the year. If you have questions about materials, delivery, or updates, you can:
- RSVP for one of the monthly Overdose Lifeline Technical Support Sessions, or
- Email our team at [email protected]