Free, Proven Drug Prevention Resources for Educators

FAQs

• 1 What is Natural High?

  Natural High is a drug abuse prevention nonprofit with the mission to inspire and empower youth to find their natural high and develop the skills and courage to live life well. We provide free, research informed curriculum for 4th-12th graders that is aligned to Common Core and National Health Standards. Our online video-based prevention, drug education, and life skills teaching program has 50+ different Storytellers giving hope, purpose, and encouragement to kids; stories of pushing through hardship, developing resilience, overcoming obstacles, and making good decisions.

• 2 Why is it important to teach kids about finding a natural high?

  Our name ‘Natural High’ refers to the feeling that comes from finding passions, interests, and talents and cultivating those activities in life that truly inspire us. Research shows that if young people discover their passions, and are directly engaged in a compelling way by people they look up to and trust, they are more likely to make positive life choices and much less likely to choose drugs and alcohol

• 3 How do I use Natural High?

  There’s no one right way to use Natural High. Our program is designed to be flexible so you can make it work for your unique setting and goals.

  Some educators use our video-based lessons as quick, 10–15 minute bell ringers. Others build full class periods or multi-week units around the content. You can start with a single video and discussion, dig deeper with worksheets and reflection prompts, or tie it into larger prevention efforts like Red Ribbon Week, school-wide initiatives, or after-school programs.

  You don’t need a set curriculum or special training. You can use Natural High's content to spark meaningful conversations about living drug-free anywhere from the classroom to leading a school assembly.

  Want a simple starting point? Try this:
  1. Watch a Natural High video featuring one of our Storytellers.
  2. Discuss together using our ready-to-go questions.
  3. Go deeper with a student worksheet or follow-up activity.

  If you want to learn more about how to use our program, visit this page.

• 4 How does this relate to my students?

  Young people are uniquely susceptible to addiction compared to adults, and the potential damage to their development and health is real. Did you know that 9 out of 10 addictions began in the teen years?

  It’s why we’re relentless in giving kids the opportunity to learn about themselves and to be inspired by examples of positive cultural influencers pursuing their natural highs.

• 5 Where do I find your drug education worksheets?

  We have an entire library of drug education worksheets and activities. Each Storyteller video has specific activities tied to the story that naturally follow the discussion. They are designed to be interactive and go deeper into concepts shown by the Storytellers in the videos.

• 6 What kind of activities do you have?

  Our flexible curriculum offers videos, discussion questions, and drug education worksheets.
  It can be used to meet a variety of needs, from brief 10-15-minute discussions to project-based work that takes place across multiple days or class periods. Additionally, we provide resources for parents and educators via our website and our Natural High Essentials emails and blogs.

• 7 How much time does it take to use Natural High?

  Natural High is designed to be flexible and easy to use, no matter how much time you have. Each video-based lesson can be delivered in as little as 10–15 minutes, making it a great fit for advisory periods, homeroom, or as a bell-ringer activity.

  For a deeper impact, many educators choose to expand the lesson into a full class period using the provided discussion questions, reflection exercises, and student worksheets.

  No matter how much time you have, you can use it to spark real change. It’s easy to fit into your day AND powerful enough to stick with your students.

• 8 Can I use Natural High in after-school programs, youth groups, or school-wide events?

  Absolutely. Natural High is designed to be flexible and works well far beyond the classroom. Many educators and prevention leaders use our content for school-wide assemblies, Red Ribbon Week, after-school programs, youth groups, and summer camps. It’s also a great fit for community coalitions and parent engagement events. Read our Case Studies to see how it's being used in different settings around the country.

  The video-based lessons are engaging, easy to facilitate, and can be tailored for one-time events or multi-week programs. All materials, including videos, can be downloaded ahead of time for offline use, making it easy to implement anywhere. It’s a powerful way to engage students and strengthen your prevention program at any scale.

• 9 Is Natural High evidence-based?

  Natural High is an evidence-informed prevention program rooted in research about effective youth behavior change. Our approach incorporates strategies shown to delay or prevent substance use, such as engaging storytelling, promoting protective factors like meaningful passions (“natural highs”), and fostering positive peer and adult relationships.

  An independent evaluation showed that after engaging with Natural High, 80% of students are more likely to avoid drug and alcohol use. Our program aligns with key principles of effective prevention and continues to be refined based on data and feedback.

• 10 Does Natural High align with prevention standards?

  Yes, Natural High is aligned with the National Health Education Standards (NHES) and Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Our lessons support key CASEL competencies such as self-awareness, responsible decision-making, and social awareness.

  In addition, our program promotes protective factors that reduce the risk of substance use: like helping students identify their passions, strengthen relationships, and set positive goals. You can use Natural High to meet state prevention mandates while supporting the whole child.

• 11 Do I need an account to use Natural High?

  No account is required to start using Natural High. you can access and download all our lessons, videos, and resources for free.

  We do recommend signing up for the Natural High Essentials emails., our free weekly email for educators. You’ll get fresh ideas, classroom-ready tools, and research-backed insights to help you spark meaningful conversations with your students. It’s the easiest way to stay inspired and up to date on the best ways to use Natural High in your work with youth.

• 12 No internet access? No problem!

  Yes! All of our videos, lesson plans, and worksheets can be downloaded ahead of time for offline use. Whether you're in a classroom with limited connectivity or presenting in a community setting, you can plan ahead and access everything you need – no Wi-Fi required!

• 13 What subjects or courses can Natural High be used in?

  Natural High is designed to be flexible, so you can use it in a variety of settings. You can incorporate it into health, PE, life skills, advisory, and homeroom periods. It’s also a great fit for after-school programs and small group discussions.

  Because the content focuses on goal setting, mental health, and personal development, it supports a wide range of learning objectives and easily complements what you're already teaching.

• 14 How can school counselors use Natural High’s content?

  Many school counselors incorporate Natural High into classroom guidance lessons, school-wide prevention efforts, or parent education. It’s a flexible tool that supports social-emotional learning and builds protective factors that help students thrive.

  The videos and activities make it easy to introduce topics like goal setting, self-esteem, and drug refusal skills in a relatable way.

• 15 What if I don’t want to, or have time to, show the videos?

  You don’t have to use the videos to make an impact. While they’re a powerful tool, Natural High promotes a lifestyle: one that inspires young people to discover their passions, commit to living drug-free, and build a life they’re excited about.

  Educators and coalitions may only use our lessons, discussion prompts, and/or student activities to spark conversations and reinforce core prevention messages.

  Others promote the Natural High lifestyle at school or community events using our stickers, posters, and drug-free pledge to create visible, positive momentum.

  Whether it’s through a lesson, a hallway poster, or a conversation, every interaction is a chance to help a young person choose a 'natural high'.