Downey

Drug and alcohol education in Downey schools needs an overhaul, a report by the health curriculum committee of the Downey Unified School District has found.

Citing a need for revision of 10-year-old instruction units on drugs and alcohol in Downey schools, the committee last week recommended a uniform health curriculum that would include drug and alcohol education from kindergarten through 12th grade.

The recommendations were made to the board of trustees last week as part of the district’s ongoing review of the 13 subjects taught in Downey schools.

Downey high school students attend a health class in ninth grade. Health education is incorporated into the elementary school curriculum and is taught in science and home economics classes at the middle-school level.

“The major concern was that we didn’t have a good drug education program in the middle schools,” said Phil Jones, committee chairman and principal at West Middle School.