PRINCETON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Community Connections, Inc. has announced a partnership with Diane Barnett, mother of the late Laken Hope Riley, to launch a comprehensive statewide curriculum for West Virginia schools in compliance with Laken’s Law. Passed in 2021, the legislation requires schools to provide annual instruction to students in grades 6-12 on the dangers and prevalence of fentanyl, available community resources for substance use, and the proper response to an opioid overdose—including training on the administration of naloxone.
This initiative is being led by Candace Harless, DFC Director and Clinical Director for Camp Mariposa at Community Connections, Inc. Harless is working closely with Barnett to develop and implement an evidence-based, age-appropriate curriculum designed to educate and empower West Virginia youth about the realities of the opioid crisis and the importance of prevention and response.
The first presentation of Laken’s Law curriculum materials took place at Princeton Senior High School on October 21, 2025, with Laken’s mother, Diane Barnett, in attendance. The next scheduled presentation will be held at Bluefield High School on November 12, 2025, as part of a continued rollout and refinement process before expanding the program across Mercer County and, ultimately, statewide.
“This curriculum is about saving lives through education,” Candace Harless. “By helping students understand the risks of fentanyl and how to respond in an emergency, we’re honoring Laken’s legacy in a meaningful and lasting way.”
“Laken’s Law ensures that no other family has to experience the loss that mine has,” said Diane Barnett. “It’s powerful to see her story becoming a tool for awareness, compassion, and prevention in classrooms across West Virginia.”
Through this partnership, Community Connections and Barnett aim to provide schools with a sustainable and accessible model for fulfilling the requirements of Laken’s Law while engaging students in conversations about real-world issues surrounding substance use, overdose response, and hope for recovery. This curriculum will take burden off of schools to find and provide these resources on their own and allow them to provide consistent education for students across the state.
For more information about the Laken’s Law curriculum or to inquire about bringing the presentation to your school, contact candace.harless@strongcommunities.org.
