Stay SAFE is a county-wide prevention initiative in Chesterfield County designed to help middle school students understand the risks of substance use and build the confidence to make safe, healthy choices. The program encourages students to turn to trusted adults for help and provides education on substances that are often misused, including tobacco, nicotine, cannabis, alcohol, prescription medications, and fentanyl.

To measure impact, students complete pre- and post-program assessments. Results show that Stay SAFE increases students’ ability to recognize the signs of substance use, understand the causes of addiction, and identify the dangers connected to substance misuse.

The program also features messages from Chesterfield County Public School principals and peers. Their words of encouragement—delivered both in person and through video—reinforce the importance of making positive decisions and support our shared goal of preventing substance use among youth.