Pennsbury School District adopts unique drug intervention program

FALLSINGTON, Pa. (WPVI) -- As overdoses continue to ravage communities across the country, one Bucks County school district is taking aim at the opioid addiction.

Pennsbury School Board meeting turned emotional Tuesday with the passage of a proposal to create what's believed to be a first of its kind program.

The initiative is a school based drug intervention program that will increase training and add full-time staffers from a drug treatment facility for the elementary schools all the way through to the high schools.

The people who first proposed this idea were members of the Johnson Family.

Their son, Luke, a Pennsbury High School graduate, lost his life this past June after spending time at a rehab in Florida. He was only 22 years old.

"He came here for his birthday on May 12 and then went back to Florida and relapsed and he died," said John Johnson, Luke's father.

School Board President Jacqueline Redner became emotional when the proposal passed unanimously.

Jacqueline Redner's son, Josh, overdosed and died last Wednesday. He was 28 years old.

Jacqueline's husband, George, said as this program expectedly grows in popularity, he hopes it inspires parents to become more proactive in the fight against opioid addiction.

"My hope is that this goes nationwide and we save many lives," said George Redner, Josh's father.

And John Johnson said the best part is that now Luke's death was not entirely in vain.

"He was a great kid, wioth a great sense of humor. We loved him very much," he said.

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