Pubdate: Thu, 11 Apr 2002
Source: Winston-Salem Journal (NC)
Copyright: 2002 Piedmont Publishing Co. Inc.
Contact:  http://www.journalnow.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/504
Note: The Journal does not publish letters from writers outside its daily 
home delivery circulation area.
Author: Denise Kasper, SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?135 (Drug Education)

ANTI-DRUG RALLY GIVES A POWERFUL MESSAGE

LEWISVILLE -- An old message got a fresh new look at Youthnited, an 
anti-drug rally in Shallowford Square on Saturday.

More than 200 teens and parents turned out for fun with a purpose. 
Organizers staged the event to let teens-agers see what they say is the 
ugly truth about substance use and abuse.

"Who here wants to go to prison?" asked speaker David Holland, a former 
addict and current inmate at the Cherry Street Correctional Center in 
Winston-Salem. "Nobody wants to go to prison. Drugs will get a hold of you 
and will not let go."

All activity stopped and the audience was silent as Holland spoke. He told 
his story of growing up in Winston-Salem, tasting success in business and 
family, and losing it all because of drugs and alcohol.

Holland and another inmate, Timothy Smith, sent the message of the perils 
of drug use as part of Operation Think Smart. The two have been in prison 
for 16 and 20 years, serving time for second-degree murder.

"Listen to the people who love you the most," Smith said. "Your heroes are 
your parents. When you take drugs, you don't just hurt yourself, you hurt 
your whole family and those who love and care about you."

The rally was put together by a group of volunteers from all over the 
community and was led by Megan Denton and Ernest Brown from Trinity Friends 
Church. Organizers agreed that the key to prevention is awareness and being 
involved - the sooner the better. Both inmates said they began using drugs 
and alcohol before the age of 13.

"(Hearing) the inmates made a difference," said Cheryl Key, a mother of two 
teen-age boys who attended the rally. "There is a lot of peer pressure, and 
this reinforces the message I'm giving them at home."

The day-long event was buzzing with activity. An elaborate skateboard park, 
provided by Immanuel Baptist Church, had kids waiting in line for their 
turn. Volleyball games and basketball games were going and rock music was 
blaring. The Christian rock band Subtotal, and WBFJ FM took turns belting 
out the music.

Using a golf cart and special goggles, teen-agers maneuvered around traffic 
cones, simulating what it would be like to drive under the influence of 
drugs or alcohol.

"Wow," said David Partridge, 12, after taking his turn at the simulator. 
"Just one drink could really change your life. I am never going to drive 
drunk."

The positive response, and the importance of the message, has organizers 
hoping this will be an annual event, Brown said. He said that seeing 
parents and teen-agers out together is the key to keeping the teen-agers 
away from drugs and alcohol.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom