FAIRVIEW PARK, Ohio -- Last year the Ohio Department of Health reported from 2000 to 2017 the state's death rate due to unintentional drug poisonings increased 1,081 percent driven largely by opioid-related overdoses.

In an effort to not only raise awareness about the ubiquitous issue but also warn students grade six to 12 about the dangers of drug use, the Fairview Park City Schools invited the Akron area chapter of the Narcotic Overdose Prevention Education (NOPE) Task Force to present two eye-opening programs Jan. 7 at the Fairview High School Auditorium.

"It was fantastic, super impactful and really emotional with really frank discussions about the effects of opioid use and abuse," said Lewis F. Mayer Middle School Counselor Mary Cory, who organized the speaking engagements featuring family members discussing loved ones lost to drug abuse, as well as police officers and actual 9-1-1 tapes of overdose calls.

"We thought it was a good idea for all of our kids to be exposed in order to build their awareness overall. You could have heard a pin drop in both presentations. I know the kids were super engaged."

Fairview Park City Schools Superintendent Bill Wagner added, "This folds right into our drug awareness and prevention programs."

The NOPE Task Force, which boasts a mission to reach communities through prevention, education and support, began 15 years ago in Florida and only recently added an Ohio chapter.

Cory said the free presentation came highly recommended from regional educators. So far this school year the presentation was delivered at Cloverleaf High School, Kent Roosevelt High School and Ravenna High School.

"I don't know if we had many expectations, honestly," Cory said. "We felt the need to educate the students and build their awareness to topics that are relevant to their growth socially and emotionally in every way. Also, it's a really normalizing activity. They call the opioid epidemic the 'silent epidemic.'

"So many of our kids have had experiences in their own families, neighborhoods or groups with opioid use and abuse at some level. For them to be able to have the experience of hearing from people in a very raw and emotional way, people just like them who are willing to be on a large stage to talk about it, that's really validating. It also opened the eyes of students who really haven't heard much about this."

One of those students was Lewis F. Mayer Middle School Student Council President Cadence Ries.

"The NOPE assembly left myself and many others in tears," said eighth grade student Ries. "Hearing painful stories about loved ones lost due to drugs changed the outlook of so many students. Overall, it left a very deep impact."

As far as the frank conversations about the dangers and realities of drug abuse, Cory said the district felt it was extremely appropriate for the roughly 950 Fairview High School and Lewis F. Mayer Middle School students who took part in separate presentations.

Prior to the assemblies, the district sent home notices to parents about the sensitive topic and mature content. Those who objected could excuse their students from attending. Cory said only a handful of pupils missed the presentations.

"I hope that means our community is really supportive of efforts to bring awareness to drug and alcohol use and abuse, and that they trust us to frame a conversation about this difficult topic with their kids," Cory said.

Looking ahead, she said the district will consider future drug abuse-related programming for students.

"It's important for us to really be aware of what's available for our students and to continually provide them varied ways to get this information and to work through it," Cory said.