LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — The city of Lexington is shifting to a more modern way of educating kids and teens about opioids with a new app called FEND, or "Full Energy, No Drugs."
"You got to meet them where they are and honestly, technology and their phones are something they're dependent on that they have 24/7,” said FEND Community Coordinator Devine Carama.
The smart phone app had its official launch Monday. Once you set up an account, you can test your opioid knowledge with quizzes and find nearby resources, like drug drop-off locations.
"We take evidence-based research and we put it into content that's relatable and relevant to youth,” said Dr. Jacquii Burgess, the Executive Director of the Preventum Initiative.
You can even get rewards as you learn information on the app.
"They can earn anything from college scholarships to concert tickets to gift cards, so we're using an incentive-based approach just to get them informed and empowered about the effects of drug use,” said Carama.
While Lexington is the first city to use FEND, those behind the app hope to expand to other cities and states, to help prevent more kids from falling into the opioid crisis.
